39 Head of Cattle Seized Following Traffic Stop North of Cheyenne

A cattle truck driver was cited and 39 head of cattle seized following a traffic stop north of Cheyenne Tuesday evening, the Laramie County Sheriff's Office says.

According to Public Information Officer Brandon Warner, 70-year-old Kinnear resident Joy Tom Smith was stopped on U.S. 85 near Morning Star Road a little after 5:30 p.m. after a deputy clocked him doing 75 mph in a 65-mph zone.

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Warner says the deputy recognized the brands were not in order and called another deputy who had recently taken a brand inspection class through the Wyoming Livestock Board, who in turn called a brand inspector and the Wyoming Highway Patrol to help with the inspection.

Warner says the truck, which belonged to Tom Smith Trucking, was put out of service for being unsafe and Smith was cited for not having a commercial driver's license, insurance, or registration.

Warner says the seized cattle are being held at the Cheyenne Stockyards and federal motor carrier charges are pending.

UPDATE:

Warner says the seized cattle were picked up Tuesday night.

"They were not stolen," Warner told KGAB Radio late Wednesday morning. "The hauler didn't have brand inspection paperwork with him, but another hauler that was hauling for the owner of the cows had the paperwork."

Warner couldn't identify the owner.