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[{"type":"text","text":"Who says chivalry is dead??"}]

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<title>You Still Here? Saturday, October 21, 2023 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Who says chivalry is dead?

You Still Here? Saturday, October 21, 2023

Kolby fedore

Kolby Fedore

Crime & Courts

Law Enforcement

Cheyenne police are evaluating whether a man could face criminal charges for setting fire to a book, tossing it into the main branch of the Laramie County Library and pulling a fire alarm, forcing an evacuation of the building.

The man walked into the library at 2200 Pioneer Ave. Monday morning carrying his own copy of the young-adult novel “Paper Towns,” says the Cheyenne Police Department. 

A short time later, library staff were extinguishing a burning book, evacuating the building and waiting for first responders after the man allegedly dumped a milkshake on the floor, tossed the smoldering novel into the building and pulled a fire alarm. 

The incident remains under investigation, and the CPD says it is still evaluating whether criminal charges are appropriate.

According to police, the man left on foot before officers arrived, then later contacted police and said he wanted to turn himself in. He was subsequently transported to a hospital for a mental health evaluation.

[{"type":"text","text":"No injuries or property damage were reported."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Milkshake, Fire Alarm And A Burning Book"}]

Joelle Ashley, marketing and communications manager for the Laramie County Library System, said the man bought the milkshake from the library cafe before intentionally dumping it on the floor.

He then lit his personal copy of "Paper Towns" on fire and threw it into the library's entrance area, pulled an alarm, and left, Ashley said.

While police said the book did not continue burning once it landed inside, Ashley said library employees quickly extinguished it and began emergency procedures out of caution. The alarm prompted the library to clear out. 

"Safety is something we take very seriously at the Laramie County Library," said Ashley. "We are incredibly proud of our staff's response.

“They were very professional; they were very responsible. They immediately picked up the book, extinguished the fire, and then got everybody out of the building safely."

Staff and patrons remained outside until first responders determined it was safe to return.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Why ‘Paper Towns'"}]

One question that remains unanswered is why the man chose to burn particular book and if the act was some kind of a statement or just random vandalism.

Ashley confirmed the title was "Paper Towns," a young-adult novel that has appeared on lists of frequently challenged books compiled by the American Library Association.

However, she stressed that the library has no information about the man's motivation and is not drawing any conclusions from the choice of title.

[{"type":"text","text":"\"I obviously cannot speculate on his motives at all,\" Ashley said."}]

The John Green young adult novel has been targeted for removal by school districts across the nation over its sexual themes and use of profanity.

[{"type":"text","text":"Police likewise report they have not identified a motive."}]

Instead, investigators say the incident may have been connected to a mental health crisis rather than criminal intent.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Charges Still Under Review"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"The investigation remains active."}]

Police said surveillance footage and physical evidence were collected from the library following the incident. They have identified the man involved but have not publicly released his name.

Meanwhile, library officials say they are grateful the situation ended without injuries and proud of the staff members who responded when a routine Monday morning suddenly became anything but routine.

Ashley said she is unaware of a similar incident ever happening at the library.

Laramie County Library Cheyenne IMG 6436 6 3 26

<title>Man Sets Fire To Controversial Book In Cheyenne Library, Then Pulls Alarm | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Cheyenne police are evaluating whether a man could face charges for setting fire to a book, tossing it into the Laramie County Library and pulling a fire alarm. The book he burned, “Paper Towns,” has been targeted by some school districts for removal.

Man Sets Fire To Controversial Book In Cheyenne Library, Then Pulls Alarm

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily reporter, Dale Killingbeck

Dale Killingbeck

Courts

CASPER — A 35-year-old Evansville man is accused of camping out in a trailer on someone’s property, then walking into their house uninvited to get orange juice from the refrigerator.

Police say those actions happened after Garrett Maheu failed to return as required to the Casper Re-entry Center, the community corrections facility in town.

Maheu waived a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Casper Circuit Court on charges of burglary, criminal entry, theft, interference with a police officer, and use of controlled substance in one case and an escape charge in another case.

Court documents show Maheu’s renewed encounter with the court system began with his failing to return to the halfway house facility by midnight May 25 following a shift at the Outback Steakhouse in Casper.

He was declared an escapee by the facility at 2 a.m., and law enforcement efforts to locate Maheu were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, at about 8 p.m. the next day, Casper police were dispatched to a home on a report of a burglary. 

Officers were told by the husband of a woman at the residence that a man in a blue beanie, black shirt, and blue jeans was trying to open the doors of their house. 

His wife was inside and “freaking out,” according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case.

After police and the husband arrived at the home, the couple provided police with video of a man acting erratic, speaking to himself and apparently experiencing a “manic episode,” the affidavit states.

At 8:55, 911 got another call from a woman in the 2000 block of South Coffman Avenue that an unknown man just walked into her house, and she had no idea where he went.

Police responded to that home, and the woman told police he left out her back door and that she had never seen the man before.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"She Was ‘Shaking’ "}]

“(The woman) was visibly shaking from the incident and advised she was shocked by the event,” the affidavit states. She "advised she was the only adult home and had two children who were asleep.”

The woman told police that a man in a black shirt suddenly walked into her house and opened her refrigerator. 

She said she confronted the man, then he “grabbed a container of orange juice from the fridge and stated to (the woman) that he had been living in a camper parked out back.”

The woman told police he than ran out the back door with the orange juice and she then called 911.

Officers went to the back yard and found nobody in the trailer. 

They had the woman examine the trailer and she told them it “was a mess and not in that state before being stored for the winter,” the affidavit states. 

She told police the trailer was typically left unlocked.

She also pointed out a blue beanie in the bathroom of the camper that did not belong to her family. The beanie was similar to the one worn by the man on the video at the previous residence, the affidavit states.

Police searched the area, but could not locate the suspect.

At 10:12 p.m., another Casper resident called 911 about a man walking westbound in an alley who appeared to be under the influence. 

Officers responded to the area and found Maheu in the vicinity of Dover Avenue and Essex Avenue, noting he matched the description of the man at the other locations.

Maheu told officers that he had been inside the camper on South Coffman Avenue and that the woman inside the home had given permission for him to take the orange juice. 

He initially refused to give police his name, denying he was Garrett Wayne Maheu. But after being confronted with the description about the Casper Re-Entry Program escapee with the skull tattoo on his chest, which he had, he admitted his identify, the affidavit states.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Meth And Drinks"}]

At the time of his arrest, Maheu was “profusely sweating” and had “pinpoint pupils” and was acting erratically, the affidavit states.

Under questioning, Maheu admitted he had used an “eight ball” of meth a few hours earlier, the term used to describe an eighth of an ounce of the drug. 

He also had two drinks that were cold in his possession that included a Fever-Tree Ginger Beer and a Truly strawberry lemonade hard seltzer that he said he got from the cooler of a guy known as “Evil.”

When shown the beanie found in the camper, he told the officer that it “absolutely” belonged to him and that he obtained it at a truck stop.

Both the burglary and escape charges carry a potential penalty of 10 years in prison as well as an up to $10,000 fine for the burglary charge. 

The criminal entry, theft, and use of a controlled substance charges are punishable by up to six months in prison and a $750 fine.

The interference with a police officer charge is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Bond was set at $10,000 cash or surety in the burglary case and $5,000 in the escape case.

Maheu had been serving time at the Casper Re-Entry Center after being sentenced for a larceny in Sweetwater County.

Maheu Casper Cop Car 6 3 26

<title>Fugitive Accused Of Breaking Into Casper-Area Homes, Taking Orange Juice | Cowboy State Daily</title>

An Evansville man accused of not returning to a Casper halfway house after work faces more charges for allegedly breaking into people’s homes. He "grabbed a container of orange juice from the fridge” when confronted by a frightened woman at one house.

Fugitive Accused Of Breaking Into Casper-Area Homes, Taking Orange Juice

UPDATE 2:50 p.m.: This story has been updated to reflect the Goshen County Sheriff's Office confirms a suspect has been identified, and that if criminal charges are filed that will be up to the Goshen County Attorney's Office.

The family of two Rottweilers found dead and mutilated in the North Platte River near Torrington says Goshen County Sheriff

s Office representatives have told them someone has turned himself in and admitted to shooting the dogs.

Angelica Garcia, whose parents owned the dogs named Django and Hildy, said that members of the sheriff’s office informed the family on Wednesday that a person had come forward and admitted to shooting the animals.

According to Garcia, investigators declined to identify the suspect, citing concerns for that person's safety.

The case has drawn statewide attention since Friday, when the dogs disappeared after getting loose from their family's property and were later found dead by a mother and her son near a popular fishing area along the North Platte River.

Garcia told Cowboy State Daily on Monday that she believes the dogs 

The family has previously claimed the dogs were shot, their collars removed, and their bodies left in the river. Authorities have not publicly confirmed those allegations.

Goshen County Sheriff Kory Fleenor confirmed Wednesday his office does have a suspect, who is not in custody. His identity isn't being released at this time, and it will be up to the Goshen County attorney to decide if criminal charges are appropriate.

"This was an unfortunate situation for everyone involved," Fleenor said.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Family Says Objection To Online Posts"}]

Garcia said the revelation about the alleged suspect came during a tense conversation with investigators.

According to Garcia, members of the sheriff's office expressed frustration with videos and information the family has shared online about the case and took issue with some of the media coverage surrounding the deaths of Django and Hildy.

She said the sheriff's office expressed frustration with Pamela Garcia for videos and information the family shared online.

[{"type":"text","text":"\"We're not taking anything down,\" Garcia said."}]

The deaths of the dogs sparked a wave of public reaction after the family posted photographs and videos online and launched a petition demanding answers about what happened.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"$2,500 Reward Offered"}]

As questions continue to surround the case, Animal Wellness Action announced it is offering up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for what the organization describes as the unlawful killing of the dogs.

The reward was announced before Garcia said the family learned that someone had allegedly admitted to shooting the animals.

Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, said he was not aware of any tips submitted to the organization as of this week, but that rewards often motivate witnesses and others with information to come forward.

"The reward really is the driver of that information," Pacelle said. "Once people understand that there's a reward, that is a very important incentive for people to participate in the process of helping law enforcement."

Pacelle said his organization became involved because of what he views as a well-established connection between animal cruelty and broader patterns of violence.

"There's a tremendous link between malicious acts of cruelty and other crimes and other social violence," he said.

Pacelle pointed to research linking animal cruelty to domestic violence and other criminal behavior.

"It's often a precursor or a red flag of someone who is going to commit other acts of violence," he said.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Echoes Of The Cody Roberts Case"}]

Animal Wellness Action and its sister organization, the Center for a Humane Economy, were also involved in the high-profile case of Cody Roberts, the Daniel man who pleaded guilty to felony animal cruelty after chasing down a wolf with a snowmobile and later displaying the severely injured animal in a bar.

Pacelle said the facts in the Torrington case remain unclear and stopped short of directly comparing the two incidents.

[{"type":"text","text":"Still, he said both cases raise concerns about how animals are treated."}]

"The common theme is just a contempt for the life of an innocent animal," he said.

Pacelle said the organization hopes the reward and public attention surrounding the case will encourage anyone with information to come forward.

"It does matter a great deal," he said. "People may not be aware of the correlation between animal cruelty and human criminality and violence, and we really want to underscore that."

Rottweilers and torrington 6 3 26

<title>Torrington Family Says Suspect Turns Self In For Shooting Mutilated Rottweilers | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A Torrington family says the Goshen County Sheriff’s Office told them a suspect turned himself in for shooting their Rottweilers, whose mutilated bodies were found in the North Platte River. The sheriff’s office confirms there is a suspect in the case.

Torrington Family Says Suspect Turns Self In For Shooting Mutilated Rottweilers

A Lincoln County contractor could be facing serious criminal charges after allegedly beating a man, threatening him with a shovel, taking his phone and coercing him into signing over a truck and equipment during a daylong 

Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputy Kale McGee outline the allegations in a 12-page affidavit filed Friday and made available Tuesday, seeking charges of aggravated blackmail and battery against Thomas John Robinson.

mother called 911 from Afton, reporting her son had been held against his will and was covered in blood, wrote McGee. 

The sheriff's deputy arrived to find the man wearing a white shirt stained with dried blood. McGee wrote that he also had dried blood near his nose and fresh bruising on his face.

The man claims Robinson arrived at his Thayne-area home around 10 a.m. demanding repayment from a failed equipment deal.

Robinson money, but said he couldn't immediately pay him, and that Robinson could not simply take vehicles and equipment 

He said he "originally owed Robinson $30,000, but Robinson kept bumping the price up.” 

The alleged victim said that Robinson then grabbed him by his sweatshirt collar, threw him to the ground and climbed on top of him, wrote McGee. 

"He popped me,” the man told investigators, later reported pain in his ribs, face, and mouth.

Next, he said Robinson loaded up a trailer and skid steer onto the man's truck and hauled him to a property on Rock Farm Road outside Etna.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Threats And A Shovel "}]

Once at the property, the man told investigators that the confrontation escalated, according to the affidavit.

He said Robinson began videotaping him and humiliating him while accusing him of fraud.

In a video taken by a witness, Robinson tells the man, "I honestly can't believe there's people like you around in this world,” the affidavit says. "Every one of us as a god — civilization and a community. 

"Every one of us that's a normal mother f***er that goes and works for their money needs to come together and f***ing catch people like you and string you up and flog you daily." 

In the video, Robinson calls the man a "piece of shit" multiple times, wrote McGee. "Like I said, I got him by the balls. I got him right by the balls; he just forfeited his truck and equipment to me and agreed to do so."

The man claimed Robinson threatened to hit him in the back of the head with a shovel and "bury him,” and also told him that he would come after him if he went to the cops. 

Robinson also allegedly threatened to burn down the man's house with his children inside and to "take him out of the community," again referencing striking him with a shovel, according to the affidavit.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Robinson Tells A Different Story"}]

Robinson acknowledged to the sheriff’s office that he confronted the other man over money, but described the encounter very differently.

According to McGee, Robinson told investigators he had been trying for months to recover money he believed was owed to him.

Robinson said he discovered the man had recently acquired a truck, trailer and skid steer despite owing him money.

McGee wrote that Robinson told investigators the man voluntarily drove the equipment to Robinson's property and later agreed to sign over his truck and equipment as collateral 

Robinson denied bloodying the man, telling investigators that he told him he was free to leave and ultimately agreed to work off the debt.

McGee wrote that Robinson produced six invoices totaling $43,589.16 and documents allegedly signed by the man transferring the truck as collateral.

Before investigators arrived at the property to talk to Robinson, they learned that he had an active warrant out to Idaho with full extradition. 

When they told Robinson there was a warrant for his arrest out of Fremont County, Idaho, Robinson began "using vulgar language and became agitated," wrote McGee. "He refused to let me place him in handcuffs behind his back and told me that he had shoulder issues.” 

He was ultimately placed in handcuffs and taken to the Lincoln County Detention Center, but according to the sheriff's department, he is no longer there. 

Court records in Fremont County, Idaho, show Robinson had been facing a felony DUI charge there. 

However, a plea agreement was filed May 28 and the case has been remanded to a lower court, according to a Fremont County District Court clerk. The clerk said the felony charge has been reduced to a misdemeanor and Robinson is expected to enter a plea in the lower court.

[{"type":"text","text":"Robinson is not being held in custody in Idaho."}]

Cowboy State Daily reached out to Fremont County prosecutors about whether Robinson may face any additional charges in Idaho and had not received a response by publication time.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Witnesses "}]

Several witnesses interviewed by investigators support portions of the alleged victim's account.

Investigators also reviewed surveillance footage from a nearby Maverik that showed the victim later in the day kneeling on gravel with a cloth pressed against his nose while Robinson spoke on the phone about alleged fraud accusations.

A notary told investigators she notarized paperwork signed by Robinson and the man later that day.

The notary told investigators she sensed tension between the men and had received a text message from the witness who made the video beforehand, one of Robinson's employees, that said, "It's getting intense.”

McGee wrote that he asked the notary if the alleged victim "looked like he was willing to sign these papers," and she said, "Hmm, I mean, he signed.” 

She said he put his driver's license down on the table, and she didn't log anything in her notary book with the state because she "just has to make sure the signature matches the signature on the paper.” 

Lincoln County Attorney Ember Oakley did not return a request by publication time for clarification about Robinson's pending charges in Wyoming.

Lincoln County Sheriffs Office 12 11 25

<title>Lincoln County Man Accused Of Beating, Shaking Down Man Who Owes Him Money | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A Lincoln County man is accused of beating a man to coerce him to sign over a truck and equipment during a daylong shakedown over a debt. “Catch people like you and string you up and flog you daily,” police say the contractor threatens on video.

Lincoln County Man Accused Of Beating, Shaking Down Man Who Owes Him Money

Employee kate meadows cropped

Kate Meadows

Wyoming Life

Sports

A Bozeman, Montana, woman has returned home following a 24-day hospital stay after her hand was ripped off in a terrifying horse accident at the Montana State University rodeo practice arena.

Presley Whitaker, wife of Montana State University Head Rodeo Coach Kyle Whitaker, arrived home from Salt Lake City via a private last Thursday, nearly a month after the May 4 accident.

She came home wearing a neck brace, having also suffered a broken jaw in the altercation, and her right arm tucked into a black sling, without her hand.  

“She’s still in a lot of pain,” Kyle Whitaker told Cowboy State Daily.

The reality of hard days ahead started sinking in for the mother of two when she arrived home and saw her saddles for the first time since the accident, Kyle said.

“She’s really frustrated,” he said, adding, “that’s part of the process.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Accident"}]

On May 4, Presley was pen roping a young horse — a horsemanship technique that teaches young horses how to handle cattle and grow accustomed to working with a rope — when the horse she was on threw her and took off.

[{"type":"text","text":"Presley was dragged behind with her right hand wrapped in the rope. "}]

She was thrown into a fence, which broke her jaw and severed her hand, Kyle said.

Kyle was moving some other horses out of the way of where his wife was working when he heard a commotion. 

He said he was a couple hundred yards away and didn’t see what happened, but his assistant coach, Savanna Bolich, saw the whole thing.

[{"type":"text","text":"She called out to Kyle and then called 911."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Kyle ran to his wife."}]

“I was holding Presley and I really thought she was going to die,” he told Cowboy State Daily.

Two members of the MSU rodeo team who were there searched for the missing hand and found it outside the arena.

“The boys, they had to go find her hand — it had gotten thrown out of the arena,” Whitaker said. “It’s big stuff for college kids.”

Presley was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and then flown by helicopter to Salt Lake City.

That was the only way she stood a chance of getting her hand reattached, Kyle recounted.

[{"type":"text","text":"However, the damage proved too severe for surgeons to reattach her hand."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"MSU Family Springs Into Action"}]

Dean Folkvord was getting on a plane to Italy when he heard about the accident.

Folkvord is president of the Chute Boss Club, an organization that supports MSU’s rodeo team by donating and raising money to cover travel, equipment and ways to enhance the college rodeo experience.

Right away, he reached out to members asking how the club could best support the Whitaker family.

The most immediate need: get Presley’s husband and mother to Salt Lake City as fast as possible.

“They were lining up planes and getting that all taken care of,” Kyle said.

Kyle was flown to Salt Lake City in a private plane owned by Brett Walker of Walker Excavation. Walker is a member of the Chute Boss Club.

“He grabbed Kyle and got him down there,” Folkvord told Cowboy State Daily.

The Chute Boss Club rounded up another private plane to pick up Presley’s mother in Minnesota.

“We grabbed her and got her to Salt Lake City,” Folkvord said. “It was a pretty spectacular situation to get them both there. Presley’s situation was unknown at the time.”

Kyle said the fast, respond-at-any-cost support from the Chute Boss Club was amazing.

[{"type":"text","text":"“It just shows how generous people are around here,” he said."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"‘Just Working With A Horse"}]

A Bozeman woman is home following a 24-day hospital stay after her hand was ripped off in a terrifying horse accident at the Montana State University rodeo practice arena. “The boys, they had to go find her hand,” said her husband and MSU rodeo coach.

You Still Here? Saturday, October 21, 2023

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