CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A Cheyenne man was arrested Thursday morning after allegedly threatening two medics with a knife and fleeing in a stolen vehicle, according to the Cheyenne Police Department.
Police said the incident occurred around 7 a.m. on Feb. 26 near the 100 block of North Greeley Highway. A man later identified as Richard Sawinski, 45, of Cheyenne, approached a parked ambulance operated by American Medical Response.
According to authorities, one medic rolled down the window believing the man needed help. Instead, the suspect allegedly leaned inside and pointed a large sheathed hunting knife toward the medic’s face, demanding cigarettes. When refused, he reportedly waved the knife aggressively before returning to a gray Dodge pickup and driving away.
Using license plate information provided by the medics, officers entered the details into the Flock Safety camera system, which provides real-time alerts when flagged plates are detected. Shortly afterward, the vehicle was spotted in southeast Cheyenne. A deputy with the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office located the truck near Avenue C and Drew Court.
At approximately 10:45 a.m., officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop and took Sawinski into custody without incident.
Investigators later determined the truck had been reported stolen out of Laramie earlier that morning. Police said Sawinski admitted to stealing the vehicle and driving it to Cheyenne. Two sheathed hunting knives were recovered from inside the truck.
Sawinski was booked into the Laramie County Jail on felony charges of aggravated robbery and motor vehicle theft. Authorities also confirmed he had an active warrant out of Larimer County, Colorado.
