Niles and Cody Veal Charged In Connection With Incident In Washakie County

A father and son from Sheridan County are accused of causing a disturbance, escaping from custody and stealing a Sheriff Deputy’s vehicle in Washakie County.

Niles Veal of Sheridan has been charged with 1 count of aggravated burglary (5-25 years in prison), 2 counts of theft (maximum 10 years in prison on each charge), 2 counts of escape (maximum 10 years in prison on one charge, and maximum 3 years in prison on the other), 2 count of interference with a peace officer (maximum 1 year in jail on each charge), 1 count of breach of peace (maximum 6 months in jail), and 1 count of littering (maximum 6 months in jail).

His son Cody Veal of Story has been charged with 1 count of burglary (maximum 10 years in prison), 1 count of escape (maximum 3 years in prison), 2 counts of interference with a peace officer (maximum 1 year in prison on each charge), 1 count of breach of peace (maximum 6 months in jail) and 1 count of littering (maximum 6 months in jail).

Investigators with the Washakie County Sheriff’s Office say in middle September, they received a call from the host of the Leigh Creek campground, that the Veal’s were banging on her camper and yelling at her.

She stated that she had made contact with them earlier, because their truck was parked at a campsite, and informed the Veal’s that if they were there for more than 30 minutes a fee would be charged.

The Veals then became irate and confrontational and followed the host back to her camper.

A deputy arrived and searched the area unsuccessfully for the Veal’s, but did find an empty box of beer and several empty bottles and cans in the area where the host initially made contact with the Veal’s earlier. 

Washakie County dispatch later received a call requesting the deputy locate a family member camped near Meadowlark and ask them to call home.

The deputy eventually found the Veal’s truck in the Canyon Creek Campground and the Veals, who wanted to report a complaint against the host of the Leigh Creek campground.

A scent of alcohol was detected and Cody was arrested for breach of peace.

Niles recorded what was going on and circles and flanked the deputy, who radioed for back-up.

Cody then started to resist entering the deputy’s vehicle, and the deputy was unable to close the door.

After placing Cody on the ground, the deputy then attempted to arrest Niles who started to run away, but the deputy eventually caught up to him and started to cuff him.

Cody then approached yelling at the officer, and Niles stated he was having a cardiac arrest, but the deputy later determined that Niles was being deceptive.

The Deputy managed to get Cody into the deputy’s vehicle, then returned to where Niles was, only to find him gone and a search ensued.

Upon returning to his vehicle, the deputy saw the rear prisoner door and 2 front doors were open with Cody entering the passenger side, and Niles the driver’s side.

The deputy had several weapons inside his vehicle, which the Veal’s found and armed themselves with, then drove the vehicle towards the deputy, who opened fire in return.

The Veal’s fled the area in the vehicle, which was found about 2 miles away on US Highway 16.

Law enforcement closed the highway as a precaution, and DCI agents eventually located the Veals.

Niles told agents he had assisted Cody in getting out of the prisoner’s cage, then fleeing the area in the deputy’s vehicle.

He also said he had hidden several of the Deputy’s weapons in the woods, which were later recovered.

Both men are free on $7,500 bond each and recently had their case forwarded to district court.

They are awaiting their arraignment, where they will enter their pleas to the charges.

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Editor’s Note: The original version of this story posted on October 19, 2021 incorrectly stated that both men had waived their preliminary hearing.  To clarify, the line has been changed to “Both men are free on $7,500 bond each and recently had their case forwarded to district court.” We regret the error.