Russell Anderson Faces Charges For Incidents Before And During Car Chase
A man wanted for parole violation out of Missouri is facing new charges in Wyoming for hitting his pregnant girl-friend, intimidating her to become a prostitute and leading law enforcement on a vehicle chase through central Wyoming.
Thirty year old, Russell Anderson has been charged with two counts felony of aggravated assault and battery on a pregnant woman, one felony count of promoting prostitution, one misdemeanor count of reckless endangering, one misdemeanor count of fleeing or attempting to elude police officers and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving.
Special Agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation say on Wednesday, November 25th, a Mills Police Officer attempted to pull over Anderson for a traffic violation.
Anderson refused to stop and a chase ensued on I-25 southbound.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol eventually got involved.
Once Anderson was between the two exits to Glenrock, he then crossed over the median and started driving southbound in the northbound lanes.
Due to the serious risk of serious bodily injury to oncoming traffic, one trooper fired several shots at Anderson in an attempt to end the pursuit, however one shot hit Anderson's passenger, 33 year old Michelle Essig, in the leg.
The chase ended a short time later, when the Patrol was able to pit Anderson's vehicle.
One Trooper and his K9 partner were injured as a result.
Essig told investigators that she was 12 weeks pregnant with Anderson's child and was the victim of violence, on two occasions before the chase.
Police took pictures of her injuries.
She added that while in Casper, Anderson forced her to prostitute herself in order to make money, and she did it out of fear of Anderson.
When interviewed, Anderson acknowledged the physical altercations and knew Essig was pregnant.
A search conducted on Anderson's and Essig's cell phones, confirmed Essig's account of prostitution.
Anderson is being held on $50,000 bond awaiting trial, and could face up to 10 years in prison on each of the aggravated assault and battery charges, and up to three years in prison on the promoting prostitution charge if convicted.
The Patrol says the Trooper who fired the shots, is on paid administrative leave pending an investigation by the DCI and WHP.
The Trooper and K9 that were injured, are doing well and have returned to duty.