A Casper man is accused of ramming, elbowing, punching and knocking down Walmart employees to get away with a stolen television until an off-duty state trooper tackled him.
Jeffery Leon Garner, 56, faces up to 11 years in prison and $11,000 in fines if convicted of injuring people while committing a robbery, and interfering with a police officer.
His case has ascended to the Natrona County District Court and his arraignment is set for Jan. 5.
Show Your Receipt
Casper Police Department officers were dispatched to the Casper Walmart at 4400 East 2nd St. at 4:20 p.m. Oct. 23 for a report of a disturbance, according to an evidentiary affidavit filed in Garner’s case.
Officer Clifford Glarrow arrived after another officer had gotten Garner into handcuffs, the affidavit says.
Glarrow spoke with Walmart employees.
One woman said she was walking outside the side doors to leave the store when Garner’s cart rammed her in the back “several times,” knocking the wind out of her. She looked back to figure out what was going on and saw Garner hitting another female employee, the affidavit relates.
The second female employee said she stepped in front of Garner to check his receipt, and he punched her at least twice, knocking her into the wall behind her.
Her face hurt, the woman told Officer Glarrow.
A third woman said she tried to step in front of Garner and he “spun around” and hit her in the face with his left hand, dropping her to the ground so that she hurt her face, ankle and wrist.
A fourth woman said she witnessed the attacks.
Here Comes The Trooper
That was when Corey McCallister, an off-duty Wyoming Highway Patrolman, tackled Garner.
McCallister had announced that he was an officer of the law and Garner “still refused to stop” what he was doing, prompting the tackle, the trooper later told police.
Another Casper Police Department officer also had a “brief struggle” and got Garner into handcuffs, says the affidavit.
Two of the women were taken to the hospital.
The Footage
Sgt. Anthony Stedillie reviewed camera footage of the incident while he was on scene.
The footage showed Garner hitting the first woman with his cart, elbowing another woman in the face, putting his hands up in a fighting position and punching a female employee in the face, the affidavit alleges.
Officers took Garner to the hospital for medical clearance, then to the Natrona County Detention Center.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
