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[{"type":"text","text":"Somehow, this is impressive..."}]

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Cowboy State Daily is Wyoming’s largest newspaper with Wyoming’s most experienced journalists. 

<title>You Still Here? Sunday, November 26, 2023 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Somehow, this is impressive...

You Still Here? Sunday, November 26, 2023

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's general assignment reporter, Clair McFarland.

Clair McFarland

Government & Politics

Legislature

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office on Friday released body camera video 

of the Dec. 28 DUI arrest of state Rep. Bill Allemand in response to a Cowboy State Daily request.

Cowboy State Daily had viewed about 18 minutes of the body camera video in Buffalo Circuit Court at a March 

 hearing, but Friday’s release spans roughly one hour over the course of Allemand’s 

 and jail booking in Buffalo just after midday Dec. 28. 

It omits a recitation of Allemand's driver's license number, the Johnson County Sheriff's Office said in an email. 

The video shows Allemand, a Republican representative from Midwest, Wyoming, arguing with Johnson County Sheriff’s Deputy Caleb Campbell.

Allemand voices disagreement about whether Campbell had grounds for the initial traffic stop. Allemand develops a more adversarial stance toward the deputy throughout his arrest, ultimately calling him an “asshole” and saying he’s not a good person.  

“I don’t know why you would say that,” says Campbell. “I thought I was pretty respectful.”

Allemand offers to pay for the deputy’s gas at a fuel stop on the way to jail. He informs the deputy he’s a legislator.

Once in jail, Allemand emphasizes that he has an “Honor Wyoming” 

 — a reference to the Honor Wyoming political group that has 

[{"type":"text","text":"He also jokes with the booking deputies."}]

While getting his booking photo taken, Allemand muses, “Wow! This is going to be on Cowboy State Daily. You can sell these pictures to Cowboy State Daily, probably for a million dollars.”

The booking deputy jokes, “K, well, we’ll try. I’ll split it with you.”

[{"type":"text","text":"“I don’t want none of it,” Allemand answers."}]

Booking photos from Johnson County and across the state are free 

[{"type":"text","text":"Why So Colorful?"}]

Allemand’s attorney Mike Vang told Cowboy State Daily in a Friday phone interview that Allemand was likely growing frustrated with the deputy because he thought he was

Buffalo Circuit Court Magistrate Jeremy Kisling 

 that Campbell had enough evidence for the initial traffic stop and to continue the traffic stop.

The Johnson County Attorney’s Office can use several minutes worth of evidence from the stop, which include Allemand 

failing his field sobriety tests, swaying, stumbling, and slurring his speech.

But prosecutors can’t use as direct evidence the potentially incriminating things Allemand said during a 12-minute stretch where he was detained in handcuffs, but hadn’t been read his Miranda rights, Kisling ruled.

Campbell had stopped Allemand on claims that after stopping at a stop sign just off Interstate 25, Allemand lurched forward, nearly hit another vehicle, then stopped abruptly.

This, coupled with the evidence that Allemand was the subject of a drunk driving report by another driver on the Interstate near Buffalo, made for enough evidence to justify Campbell’s stop, Kisling ruled.

[{"type":"text","text":"Vang said he still believes Kisling got the evidence question wrong."}]

“Here’s the big deal,” said Vang. “The cop never claimed he saw any type of a traffic violation except for Mr. Allemand allegedly running a stop sign.”

Vang said the dash camera recording “clearly shows Mr. Allemand never makes any driving infraction. He comes to a complete stop like he’s supposed to, just as he’s turning off the interstate.”

The dash camera video of the contested stop, played at the March hearing, is grainy and inconclusive.

As a car approaches from the left, said Vang, “it was obscured from his view.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Allemand stopped to avoid hitting it."}]

“That deputy lacks the skills to properly do a DUI investigation,” said Vang.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a late-day Friday request for a response to that.

Allemand is scheduled to go to trial Sept. 16. That’s a month after the heated Republican 

 he’s now waging against Bar Nunn Mayor Peter Boyer, set for Aug. 18.

Elected in 2022, Allemand is in his second term in the state House of Representatives. He's also a member of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, a group of populist-leaning House Republicans. 

[{"type":"text","text":"From The Beginning Now"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"The body camera video projects the view from Campbell’s torso forward."}]

It shows the deputy approaching Allemand in the parking lot of a gas station in Buffalo, Miller’s Travel Center. 

As Campbell approaches Allemand's truck in the video, the lawmaker appears to be sitting in the driver’s seat of a blue pickup looking at a cellphone.

Vang told Cowboy State Daily the lawmaker stopped there to get fuel, not avoid law enforcement.  

[{"type":"text","text":"Campbell raps on the window and says “howdy.\"  "}]

Allemand talks to him, asks what he did wrong, and after a brief exchange, leans over his passenger seat to retrieve documents for the deputy. 

In the video, the lawmaker is dressed in a casual blue T-shirt, his hair somewhat ruffled. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Campbell asks Allemand why his speech sounds the way it does."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"“I dunno,” answers Allemand, handing the deputy a document. "}]

At legislative meetings and elsewhere Allemand speaks loudly, somewhat slowly and with a unique cadence. That pattern also surfaces in the video, though Allemand’s speech sounds less articulate than usual in the 

[{"type":"text","text":"Campbell would later report that Allemand's speech was “slurred.” "}]

In the video, the deputy orders Allemand to exit the vehicle, and Allemand does. 

[{"type":"text","text":"“K, am I being arrested?” asks Allemand. "}]

“You’re being detained right now,” Campbell answers. The deputy explains that there’s a firearm in the truck, which he says Allemand “did not disclose.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Allemand says he has a conceal carry permit for it. "}]

Though Kisling disagreed with Campbell questioning Allemand in confinement without first giving his Miranda rights, the magistrate ruled last week that it was fair of Campbell to detain Allemand because of the gun.

 merited that detainment, Kisling ruled.

[{"type":"text","text":"The Reason I Stopped You"}]

Campbell later tells Allemand that he watched Allemand stop at an intersection, start to pull into traffic, and “almost hit a car.” Campbell also notes that Allemand was reportedly the subject of a report every drunk driving incident, or REDDI report.

The caller had reported man in his 60s with white hair driving a blue pickup all over the interstate, from rumble strip to rumble strip, court documents say.

“You did stop at the stop sign, but the way you stopped was improper,” says Campbell in the video.

[{"type":"text","text":"Allemand voices disagreement and confusion. At one point he chuckles."}]

“You went past the stop sign,” explains Campbell. “But you stopped — but only because there was a vehicle in front of you that you were going to hit. So that gives me reasonable suspicion to stop you.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Allemand says, “I don’t understand that. If I stop — “"}]

Campbell interrupts and says these events give him reasonable suspicion for the stop, as does the REDDI report.

[{"type":"text","text":"This Won’t Be In The Case In Chief"}]

While detaining Allemand, Campbell asked a series of questions that Kisling found, in his order last week, could lead to Allemand incriminating himself.

Because Allemand was confined and hadn’t been read his Miranda rights at that juncture, the Johnson County Attorney’s Office won’t be able to use the following exchange in its direct evidence pool at trial.

But because Campbell didn’t coerce, trick, or deceive Allemand into giving the answers he gave, the prosecutor may still “impeach” or fact check Allemand if he says something that contradicts these statements in court.

Law enforcement officers are supposed to read a person his Miranda rights before asking incriminating questions, if the person is confined to such an extent that a reasonable person in his shoes wouldn’t feel free to leave.

[{"type":"text","text":"Campbell asks, “Did you drink anything today?”"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"“Yes,” answers Allemand. "}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Campbell asks how much. "}]

[{"type":"text","text":"“Probably two beers,” says Allemand in the video. "}]

“That’s everybody’s answer,” parries Campbell while handcuffing Allemand. 

[{"type":"text","text":"“So what did I do illegal?” Allemand asks in the video. "}]

He was driving erratically, he was reported as a drunk driver and he stopped just short of hitting a vehicle, answers Campbell, adding, “if that makes sense.”

[{"type":"text","text":"“No, it don’t,” says Allemand, who leans on his truck. "}]

After more back-and-forth, Allemand challenges Campbell’s assertion about the intersection.

“So I did stop at the stop sign, but it was an improper stop. Is that what you’re telling me?” he asks. “I don’t understand that.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Campbell calls for another deputy to come to the scene. "}]

Allemand says there’s a firearm on his hip, feels his hip and says, “Oh, OK, I put it off.”

Campbell opined from the witness stand in March that Allemand was indicating he had lost track of his gun. 

[{"type":"text","text":"‘I Had Two Beers'"}]

In the video, Campbell’s backup deputy arrives. Campbell pats Allemand down for weapons. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Allemand, standing outside in his T-shirt and pants, asks for a coat. "}]

Campbell circles to the passenger side of the pickup, opens the door, moves aside a cowboy hat and retrieves the pistol. 

Campbell manipulates the gun and tries to talk to someone on his radio. He references static interfering with his message, and says he can go back to his vehicle to use the radio. 

He does go back to his vehicle to communicate Allemand’s date of birth and particulars about the gun, then returns to Allemand. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Allemand is still handcuffed at this juncture. "}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Campbell asks if Allemand is under the care of a doctor, and for what. "}]

[{"type":"text","text":"The answer is yes, and for blood pressure and hearing, says Allemand. "}]

Campbell’s backup deputy asks if Campbell wants him to take the handcuffs off Allemand. Campbell doesn’t verbally answer the other deputy.

[{"type":"text","text":"“You are taking me to jail?” Allemand asks. "}]

“Not yet,” says Campbell. “I’m trying to figure out what level intoxication you are.”

[{"type":"text","text":"“I had two beers,” answers Allemand. "}]

After more back and forth, Campbell says, “I just want you to be honest,” and Allemand parries, “I am being honest, man. What do you need me to do?”

[{"type":"text","text":"“When was the last drink you had?” asks Campbell. "}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Allemand says his last drink was 15 miles down the road. "}]

“I have a little bit of a problem. That I have anxieties of driving down interstates,” he says, adding that two-lane roads don’t bother him but he’s learned that if he has a beer when he drives down the interstate “it’s so much better” though he “knows it’s highly illegal.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Allemand says he has balance problems, and has had two knee replacements."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"But Prosecutors Can Use This Stuff"}]

Allemand’s handcuffs are removed and Campbell discusses field sobriety tests. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Allemand rubs his wrists and says, “Ah, that feels better.”"}]

He stumbles toward Campbell, who steadies him with one hand and says, “Woah, personal space.” 

The other deputy retrieves Allemand’s jacket and brings it to him, while Campbell asks if Allemand has issues with his eyes.

[{"type":"text","text":"“Not that I know of,” answers Allemand. "}]

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<title>Johnson County Sheriff Releases Body Cam Video Of Rep. Bill Allemand's DUI Arrest | Cowboy State Daily</title>

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office on Friday released body camera video of state Rep. Bill Allemand's December DUI arrest. Allemand grew more adversarial toward the deputy throughout his arrest, ultimately calling him an "asshole." 

Johnson County Sheriff Releases Body Cam Video Of Rep. Bill Allemand's DUI Arrest

Heinz mark

Mark Heinz

Outdoors

Wildlife

A 12-year-old was taken to an area hospital after being hurt by a bison Friday near Mud Volcano, which is just north of Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone National Park.

The National Park Service announced the incident in a statement, but did not reveal much information, including the child’s gender, the extent of the injuries or what led up to the child’s altercation with the bison.

The incident happened at about 9:15 a.m., the agency reports.

“The visitor sustained injuries, and emergency medical personnel transported them to a nearby hospital,” according to the NPS statement. “The incident remains under investigation."

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Watch For The Tail Raise"}]

Biologist George Wuerthner told Cowboy State Daily that bison frequently signal irritation with body language, specifically “if they stick their tail up in the air.”

“That’s how they indicate to the herd that something is wrong,” he said, adding that it’s similar to white-tailed deer raising their tails to signal danger.

As to what might have caused the bison to attack the child, Wuerthner said that without a detailed account of the incident, that could be difficult to determine.

“The usual thing is people getting too close” to bison, said Wuerthner, who has worked in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for decades and is president of the Montana Wild Bison Coalition.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Not Cattle"}]

Yellowstone bison are used to having crowds around them, so they might seem somewhat complacent around people, but park visitors shouldn’t take that for granted, Wuerthner said.

“People tend to think of them like cattle,” he said. "But then again, cattle hurt people too, so that’s not a good assumption to make."

According to park rules, people should stay back at least 100 yards from wolves and bears, and 25 yards away from other wildlife, including bison.

Frequent Yellowstone visitor and wildlife photographer April Holm told Cowboy State Daily that she’d previously seen some spooky bison activity in the same general area where the child was reportedly injured.

A couple of weeks ago “we saw a very spicy bison, and a guy almost got gored by him,” she stated in a text message.

“I wonder if it’s the same one (bison),” she added. "I don’t know exactly where the kid got hurt, so I’m not saying it’s the same one.”

Bison sign 6 3 24

<title>12-Year-Old Visitor Hurt By Yellowstone Bison, Sent To Hospital | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A 12-year-old was taken to an area hospital Friday after being hurt by a bison just north of Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone National Park. This is the first recorded bison attack in Yellowstone of the year.

12-Year-Old Visitor Hurt By Yellowstone Bison, Sent To Hospital

After repeatedly getting too close to people and possible food sources, a popular young grizzly called Miracle was captured and relocated by wildlife agents in Grand Teton National Park on Thursday afternoon.

It was the necessary next step for human safety and the bear’s well-being, Grand Teton spokeswoman Emily Davis told Cowboy State Daily early Friday.

Miracle has been hanging around the Colter Bay area, where she was captured.

Earlier this month, dog handlers with Karelian bear dogs were brought in to try hazing Miracle away from crowded areas.

Fans of Miracle have assumed the bear was a female. That was confirmed when she was captured, Davis said.

The bear weighs roughly 80 pounds. She was tagged and officially designated “GB (grizzly bear) 1199,” she said.

Miracle is thought to be about 2.5 years old, and assumed to the offspring of another popular bear, Grizzly 1063.

Biologists think “it’s highly likely that she’s 1063’s offspring” but only a DNA test could affirm that, Davis said.

Miracle/Grizzly 1199 was relocated to a remote location in Grand Teton, she said.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"‘A Fed Bear Is A Dead Bear’"}]

“There have been no documented cases of her (Miracle/Grizzly 1199) getting a food reward” but the possibility seemed imminent, Davis said.

A bear getting food rewards, or becoming “food-conditioned,” as officials put it, is considered a critical tipping point. And it usually doesn’t end well for the bear.

“A fed bear is a dead bear” is a common saying among wildlife biologists and bear enthusiasts.

Wildlife agents recently euthanized a food-conditioned black bear in Grand Teton.

It’s suspected that food-conditioning caused the unusually bold behavior of a black bear near Golden, Colorado. That bear scratched a woman who was hiking and then 

, despite the woman continually shouting and throwing rocks and sticks at the bear.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"‘Just A Matter Of Time’"}]

Wildlife photographer Marcela Herdova is an avid fan of Miracle and has been watching her with apprehension for the past few weeks.

Herdova told Cowboy State Daily she’s seen Miracle getting close to garbage cans and other possible temptations.

The Colter Bay area has been packed with tourists, increasing the odds that something could go wrong with the bear, she added.

“I think it was just a matter of time before somebody did something, like, not properly throwing away their trash, or even directly giving her something. So, I think this (the relocation) is the best move for her,” Herdova said.

“Right now, she’s still a little bear, but she’s still growing,” Herdova added. "She won’t be such a small bear for long, and that could cause some issues.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Troubled History"}]

Miracle is thought to have beaten some steep odds to have survived this long.

She’s thought to be one of three yearling cubs with Grizzly 1063 in May 2025, and those bears were hanging around Colter Bay.

Bear enthusiasts claimed the Park Service trying to haze Grizzly 1063 and her cubs away from Colter Bay caused them to temporarily split up, leaving the cubs vulnerable to the male’s attack.

Park officials stated there was no evidence the hazing contributed to the attack.

The third cub, thought to be Miracle, briefly reunited with Grizzly 1063 but later apparently split from its mother again.

Miracle was captured and relocated in July 2025.

Bear watchers wondered if the cub could make it on its own at such a young age because grizzlies don’t typically separate from their mothers until age 2.

Miracle’s fans were thrilled when she 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"‘The First Grizzly They Got To See’"}]

With Miracle apparently having worn out her welcome at Colter Bay, it’s bittersweet to see her relocated, Herdova said.

“I do think that they (the Park Service) have expended so much effort to keep Miracle safe, and I appreciate that,” she said.

Herdova added she’s seen numerous instances of wildlife getting into trouble, because of human interference.

That included watching a black bear digging into an overflowing garbage can, which has since been removed, she said.

And she’s watched a fox “posturing” right next to people, apparently trying to get food from them.

Miracle has been the most highly visible bear this spring and early summer, Herdova said.

Grizzly 1063 has made some appearances with three new cubs, “but she has changed her behavior” and hasn’t been as visible as usual, she said.

Grand Teton’s most famous living bear, Grizzly 610, also “hasn’t been as visible” this year, Herdova said.

With Miracle gone, there might not be as many bear-watching opportunities for visitors, she added.

“It’s sad that people aren’t going to see her because, for many people, she was the first grizzly that they ever got to see,” Herdova said.

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<title>Miracle, Popular Grand Teton Grizzly, Relocated After Getting Too Close To People | Cowboy State Daily</title>

After repeatedly getting too close to people and food sources, a popular young grizzly nicknamed Miracle was captured and relocated by wildlife agents in Grand Teton National Park on Thursday. "It was just a matter of time," said one wildlife photographer.

Miracle, Popular Grand Teton Grizzly, Relocated After Getting Too Close To People

Mac Watson

Daily Video News

It’s time to take a look at what’s happening around Wyoming for Friday, June 26th.  I’m Mac Watson

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"},{"type":"italic"}],"text":"–"}]

Idaho is switching from lethal injections to firing squad executions on July 1st. Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that Wyoming won’t be changing its execution methods any time soon. 

“This does not affect Wyoming right now, because we don't have anyone on death row, and we rarely execute anyone. We haven't executed anyone since 1992 but it came up in 2014 when Dale Wayne Eaton was on death row before he had, before his death sentence had basically fizzled on appeal. We didn't have a gas chamber, which is our fail-safe method if lethal injection is unconstitutional, and the lethal injection drugs were scarce nationwide, and so Bruce Burns, who was a state senator at the time, was like, What are we going to do here if we can't get the drugs and we don't know the gas chamber, and so he made a bill that would have if the lethal injection wasn't available, that would have allowed for firing squad. That bill tried twice to get into the legislature and failed both times.”

Idaho is spending $1.2 million to retrofit an execution chamber for its new firing squad method, the 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"–"}]

A sex solicitation sting in Cheyenne led to the arrest of two men last weekend. Cowboy State Daily’s Kerry Drake reports that Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak says it’s the beginning of a new effort to stop human trafficking that has been ignored for too long by law enforcement.

You Still Here? Sunday, November 26, 2023

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