An Evansville, Wyoming, man faces weapons and other charges after he allegedly pulled a gun in an Evansville sports bar Wednesday night and threatened to “kill” the owner and “everyone in here.”
Evansville Police Officer Bluford Blankenship and Cpl. Will Cassidy responded to Taylor’s Sports Bar at about 11:45 p.m. to find Matthew Mikalowski, 51, holding a Glock 19 handgun, Police Chief Mike Thompson told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday morning.
The Natrona County Sheriff’s Office and Casper Police Department also responded to the bar to assist police in Evansville, which is in the Casper metropolitan area.
Blankenship and Cassidy ordered Mikalowski to put down the gun, and he complied, Thompson said. He was then ordered to lay on the floor and was arrested.
Started Argument
An affidavit supporting the arrest states that the altercation escalated when Mikalowski started arguing with a female patron at the bar and was asked to leave by the owner.
“Mr. Mikalowski punched (the owner) in the shoulder and became argumentative with (the owner),” the affadavit says. “Mr. Mikalowski produced a handgun from his waistband area then pointed at (the owner) stating, ‘I’ll kill you and everyone here.’”
The owner told police he had never seen Mikalowski in the bar before.
The affidavit also says Mikalowski had a strong odor of alcohol and slurred speech, indicating he was likely intoxicated.
Meanwhile, a man and his wife playing pool at the bar reported they saw what was happening, and the man moved to help the owner as Mikalowski argued with him, according to the affidavit. That’s when the gun was produced and the bystander’s wife “hid behind her husband, at his directive.”
Charges Filed
Charges against Mikalowski include aggravated assault, making a terroristic threat, carrying a concealed weapon where prohibited, and simple assault and battery.
Mikalowski was jailed in the Natrona County Detention Facility pending his arraignment on the charges.
Arresting officer Blankenship also informed Mikalowski that he was “officially trespassed from Taylor’s Sport’s Bar for life,” according to the arrest affadavit.
Wyoming law prohibits carrying a weapon into a facility that is licensed to dispense alcoholic liquor and malt beverages for consumption at that facility.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
