Former Wyoming Police Chief Arrested Again for Alleged Bond Violation

BJ Kidgell, the former police chief of Manderson, Wyoming, has been arrested once again, this time for allegedly violating a judge’s order by contacting a woman he is accused of helping to evade a drug investigation, Cowboy State Daily reports.

Kidgell was charged in November with police interference and failure to perform his duties after reportedly assisting Dulcie Vanvoorhis in eluding law enforcement during a drug investigation.

A new arrest warrant was issued for Kidgell on Thursday, and he was taken into custody in Washakie County the following day. According to court documents, Kidgell violated the conditions of his bond by texting Vanvoorhis between mid-December and mid-January, despite being prohibited from contacting her or her family. The texts were uncovered during a follow-up investigation by a Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) agent, who found that Vanvoorhis had reported ongoing contact with Kidgell since November.

Kidgell, who is no longer serving as the Manderson police chief, was released on bond Tuesday after posting $40,000 cash or surety, up from his previous signature bond. An evidentiary hearing to determine whether Kidgell violated his bond conditions is scheduled for February 5.

The case against Kidgell stems from his alleged role in assisting Vanvoorhis during a drug investigation in October 2024. Evidence gathered by the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, along with recordings of jail calls between the two, suggested that they were in a romantic relationship. Prior to a scheduled drug search at Vanvoorhis’s home, she allegedly received a tip-off from Kidgell and was instructed to avoid answering the door during the search. Despite efforts to remove evidence, a drug detection dog reportedly found paraphernalia at the scene.

Kidgell’s attorney, Sam Krone, has not yet commented on the latest developments in the case. Kidgell’s former position as the police chief has since been filled by Darold Newman.