In a peculiar turn of events, a Colorado man’s deep-seated fears of being surveilled by a friend led him to inadvertently expose his own illegal drug possession to law enforcement in Laramie County, Wyoming. Austin A. Stambene, a 33-year-old resident of Colorado Springs, found himself facing serious legal repercussions after his attempt to seek help from the authorities backfired, revealing his possession of cocaine and marijuana.
The incident unfolded early in the morning on January 4, when Stambene, driven by paranoia, contacted the Laramie County Sheriff’s office from a location east of Cheyenne. He reported that his vehicle, along with personal items including his phone and eyeglasses, had been bugged by an acquaintance from Colorado Springs. This unusual claim prompted Deputy Jason Grover to respond, finding Stambene in a state of distress in his car, engine running.
Stambene’s narrative of harassment over his late mother’s death 10 years prior and subsequent actions taken to rid his belongings of bugs painted a picture of a man grappling with paranoia. Despite his efforts to counteract the perceived surveillance, his interaction with Deputy Grover quickly shifted focus from his allegations to his physical state and behavior, which suggested drug use.