According to a news release from the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office, on April 22, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the Craig Regional Communications Center received a 911 call from a rancher on North Highway 13 near the Wyoming border reporting he had interrupted a burglary in progress at his residence.

The rancher reported encountering a male inside his home and discovered multiple firearms had been stolen. The suspect fled the residence northbound into Wyoming in a silver passenger vehicle. Deputies and investigators with the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office responded immediately.

While investigators processed the crime scene, deputies canvassed the area, including Baggs and Dixon, Wyoming, in an effort to locate the suspect vehicle.

With assistance from citizens in Baggs, deputies were able to determine the suspect vehicle had traveled through Baggs and continued east toward Dixon.

As law enforcement presence increased in the area, a delivery driver reported a suspicious vehicle on Carbon County Road 722. Acting on that information, Moffat County deputies, assisted by a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper, located the suspect vehicle concealed at an abandoned residence on County Road 722.

Deputies established a perimeter around the property and awaited additional resources from the Wyoming Highway Patrol and the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. While waiting for those resources, the suspect left the residence in the silver passenger vehicle.

As he exited the driveway, deputies deployed a tire deflation device as a precautionary measure to lessen the chance of the suspect fleeing and to safely control the encounter. The suspect drove over the device, stopped, and was taken into custody without incident.

A subsequent search of the abandoned property resulted in the recovery of all stolen firearms taken during the burglary.

The suspect, identified as 78-year-old Tom Piantes of Utah, was transported to the Carbon County Jail in Rawlins, Wyoming, where he is facing charges through Wyoming authorities, including possession of stolen property, possession of narcotics, trespassing and burglary.

According to the news release, the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office will be seeking an arrest warrant for additional criminal offenses allegedly committed in Colorado.

“This case is a strong example of coordinated law enforcement efforts, engaged citizens and proactive policing resulting in a safe resolution,” said Sheriff Chip McIntyre. “I want to commend the victim for promptly reporting the crime, the delivery driver whose observations proved critical and the diligent work of our deputies and investigators.”

The Moffat County Sheriff’s Office extended its appreciation to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens who assisted during the investigation.

According to Sheriff McIntyre, the incident remains an active investigation, and additional charges may be forthcoming.

Editor’s note: Every person accused of a crime is presumed to be innocent unless and until their guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.