The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming

State Briefs

Casper man arrested after standoff

CASPER (WNE) — A Natrona County special response team responded to a domestic assault call northwest of Casper on Sunday, arresting a 51-year-old man after a two-and-a-half-hour standoff.

The Natrona County Sheriff’s Office released details of the incident Monday morning. Spokesman Taylor Courtney told media that when sheriff’s deputies responded to the call at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, they knew the male suspect was inside the home but was not answering the door.

The man had a “criminal history” that included “violent crimes,” Courtney said, so the deputies called in the special response team — effectively the county’s SWAT unit. After two and a half hours, they arrested William Martin after he exited the home and surrendered. Officers did not make a forced entry into the residence. 

Courtney said no weapons were found, and investigators don’t believe controlled substances played a role in the incident. The alleged victim is listed as a family relation to Martin. 

Courtney declined to discuss if there had been active negotiations with Martin that led him to surrender. The alleged victim was hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening, Courtney said, and she is in stable condition. 

Courtney said law enforcement officers are recommending a charge of domestic battery but stressed that the District Attorney’s Office will ultimately decide.

Burning car leads to DUI arrest

RIVERTON (WNE) — A 33-year-old Riverton woman was arrested for driving under the influence, reportedly after she exited and walked away from a burning vehicle.

Toniette Munguia was arrested last week by the Riverton Police Department. 

Bystanders called in the fire near the 500 block of S. Sixth E. in Riverton at 6:42 a.m. Wednesday. 

RPD and Riverton Volunteer Fire Department responders both arrived at the scene, where witnesses described the woman who had been driving the white 2000 Chevrolet passenger car before it ignited. 

RPD Capt. Todd Byerly said the descriptions enabled police to apprehend the woman, who was intoxicated, and arrest her for driving under the influence. 

When questioned, Munguia said that she was driving when she began to smell gasoline and see sparks on her car, so she left the car and walked away. 

“She stopped her car in the middle of the street,” said Byerly, who later relayed that she said “she left because she had other things to do.” 

Game and Fish to study free licenses for disabled

CODY (WNE) — Under a proposed change in Game and Fish rules, resident disabled outdoorsmen and women would be eligible to obtain a free lifetime fishing license and free conservation stamp.

The idea is under consideration as part of a group of proposed regulation alterations and hunting season quota settings being discussed at department hearings around Wyoming.

“It hadn’t been available to them before,” said Cody regional supervisor Dan Smith of the disabled benefit.

The proposal, along with a package of other possible regulation changes, will go before the Game and Fish Commission at its July 18-19 meeting in Green River.

Under this plan, eligibility would be defined as a resident who is “permanently and totally disabled and is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity.” The determination would be made by the U.S. Social Security Administration based on Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.

The license and stamp would be good as long as the individual remains a Wyoming resident.

 
 
Rendered 03/26/2024 01:07