State Briefs

Woman says she owns Walmart, so shoplifting isn’t theft

GILLETTE (WNE) — A California woman accused of taking more than $5000 worth of merchandise from Walmart told police that it couldn’t be considered shoplifting because she owned the store.

Police found Sina A. Dailey-Sykes, 31, outside of the Gillette store June 18 after Walmart workers had seen her walk out of the store with a cart full of items that she hadn’t paid for. Among them were a hot pink bag, a blue-striped bag and a suitcase, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Sykes admitted to police that she hadn’t paid for the items, but didn’t need to because the FBI had given her Walmart and she owned the entire contents.

Inside her car, police found the suitcase and the striped bag.

They also found more than 400 other items that had been taken from the store. No receipts were found and nearly all the items still had tags on them, according to court documents.

The total value of the merchandise was $5099.23.

Surveillance footage showed that she had arrived in the parking lot June 13 and had been living there for the past five days.

She was charged in Circuit Court with felony shoplifting, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Drunk, disorderly Yellowstone tourist gets 60 days in jail

JACKSON (WNE) –- A Yellowstone National Park tourist has been sentenced to 60 days in jail after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct and other charges.

A kayak guide called security officers after Kyle Campbell, of Fairmont, Indiana, caused a disturbance when a guide refused to take his group for a scheduled kayak trip after deciding the group was too drunk to go.

The 31-year-old made threatening comments to officers, resisted arrest, kicked at rangers and banged his head in the patrol car, injuring himself, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming.

“We understand that people are eager to get out this summer and enjoy our national parks; however, this type of behavior is unacceptable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bob Murray. “Stay sober, because unruly and intoxicated behavior will only earn you a spot with the jailbirds rather than enjoying the beauty and adventure of Yellowstone.”

Campbell appeared for arraignment and sentencing June 23 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Carman in Mammoth. 

Beyond the 60-day sentence, he will face a five-year term of unsupervised probation and a five-year ban from Yellowstone. He was also ordered to pay $1,550 in fines and a $50 special assessment fee, the release said.

“Campbell pleaded guilty to several criminal charges: disorderly conduct; threatening, resisting and intentionally interfering with a government employee; violating the lawful order of a government employee; being under the influence of alcohol and a controlled substance to a degree that may endanger oneself or others; and contempt of court,” the release said.

Ten-hour Gillette standoff ends with arrests

GILLETTE (WNE) — Two men were arrested following a Wednesday standoff at a Gillette apartment that lasted into Thursday morning.

An unidentified 27-year-old man reported that a 42-year-old man had refused to exit a black Dodge Ram he had borrowed from the 27-year-old. The suspect then fled and entered a 62-year-old man’s apartment and barricaded himself there. The 62-year-old reported he was “fearful” of the suspect and requested that he be removed from the home, said Police Lt. Brent Wasson.

Police arrived at 6:28 p.m., at which time they set up road blocks and established a command post for the standoff. At some point, the police used a robot to find the suspect, who was hiding underneath a bed in the apartment.

The suspect was eventually arrested on suspicion of possession of liquid meth, which officers found inside the Dodge; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle; interference; and on a warrant on an original drug charge, assault and interference, Wasson said.

Just after 3 a.m. officers got a search warrant for the apartment, where they found about 7 grams of crystal meth and a handgun.

The 62-year-old old man also was arrested on suspicion of possession of meth.

The Police Department completely cleared the scene at about 4:20 a.m. Thursday and are investigating whether the firearm brandished by the suspect belonged to someone who had been disqualified from owning one. It is unknown who owned the weapon, Wasson said.

The names of the suspects haven’t been released because of the ongoing investigation, Wasson said.