A high-speed chase through two Wyoming counties ended with a truck and camper ditched in a state park, a suspect hiding in the brush, and a trooper headed to the hospital after taking a kick where it hurts most. It’s the kind of story that starts as a routine traffic stop and ends up reading like the plot of a bad action movie, minus the stunt doubles.
Nicholas J. Blocker, 47, of Laramie, is now facing a felony charge after Wyoming Highway Patrol says he kicked Trooper Brandon Todd square in the groin while being taken into custody. According to the trooper’s affidavit, the pain was so severe it left him nauseous and struggling to walk on his own. Todd still helped finish the arrest before getting checked out at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.
What makes this one stand out, even by chase standards, is the vehicle involved. This wasn’t some stripped-down getaway car built for speed. It was a pickup truck towing a camper, which is not exactly the ideal setup for outrunning law enforcement. Anyone who has ever towed a camper knows that vehicle handles more like a barge than a sports car, and top speed isn’t its strong suit.
The chase started on I-80 in Albany County before the truck exited onto Buford Road and eventually crossed into Laramie County, reported Cowboy State Daily. Troopers deployed Stop Sticks, and the truck ran right over them, which tells you the driver was committed to finishing this thing out on flat tires rather than pulling over. Committed, or maybe just not thinking too clearly, which tracks with the DUI charge he’s now facing too.
How the Chase Played Out
Once the tires were shredded, Blocker kept driving anyway, turning onto Happy Jack Road before finally ditching the disabled truck and camper in Curt Gowdy State Park. From there he took off on foot into the timberline, apparently hoping thick brush and darkness would do what four flat tires couldn’t.
Trooper Todd followed him in and found Blocker hiding in the vegetation near the edge of a beach area.
The Arrest Turns Physical
Blocker allegedly made a sudden move with his right arm as if reaching for a weapon, though none was found. Troopers took him to the ground and got him handcuffed. It was after he was back on his feet that Blocker allegedly squared up and delivered the kick that turned this from a stack of traffic tickets into a felony case.
He was eventually placed in a wrap restraint and handed over to the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.
The Charges Add Up Fast
Blocker’s court date is set for Friday in Albany County, and the paperwork is substantial. The felony count is interference with a peace officer causing injury, which carries up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. On top of that sits a long list of misdemeanors, including DUI, reckless driving, speeding, following too closely, failing to signal, and running stop signs and a red light. He’s also facing a separate domestic battery charge from earlier that same evening.
It’s a reminder that towing a camper is stressful enough under normal circumstances, backing one into a campsite is its own kind of workout, without adding a police chase into the mix. Whatever was going on that night, running from troopers at towing speed was never going to end well.