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 court hearing, but Friday’s release spans roughly one hour over the course of Allemand’s traffic stop, arrest, 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” belt buckle — a reference to the Honor Wyoming political group that has given him favorable ratings.
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.”
“I don’t want none of it,” Allemand answers.
Booking photos from Johnson County and across the state are free and are public records.
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 being falsely arrested.
Buffalo Circuit Court Magistrate Jeremy Kisling ruled last week 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 allegedly 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.
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.”
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 primary election contest 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.
From The Beginning Now
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.
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.
Campbell asks Allemand why his speech sounds the way it does.
“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 video.
Campbell would later report that Allemand's speech was “slurred.”
In the video, the deputy orders Allemand to exit the vehicle, and Allemand does.
“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.”
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.
Campbell’s concerns for officer safety merited that detainment, Kisling ruled.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
Campbell asks, “Did you drink anything today?”
“Yes,” answers Allemand.
Campbell asks how much.
“Probably two beers,” says Allemand in the video.
“That’s everybody’s answer,” parries Campbell while handcuffing Allemand.
“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.”
“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.”
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.
‘I Had Two Beers'
In the video, Campbell’s backup deputy arrives. Campbell pats Allemand down for weapons.
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.
Allemand is still handcuffed at this juncture.
Campbell asks if Allemand is under the care of a doctor, and for what.
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.
“You are taking me to jail?” Allemand asks.
“Not yet,” says Campbell. “I’m trying to figure out what level intoxication you are.”
“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?”
“When was the last drink you had?” asks Campbell.
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.”
Allemand says he has balance problems, and has had two knee replacements.
But Prosecutors Can Use This Stuff
Allemand’s handcuffs are removed and Campbell discusses field sobriety tests.
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.
“Not that I know of,” answers Allemand.
Campbell asks Allemand to put his feet together and hold his hands at his sides.
“K, see, that is hard,” says Allemand.
Allemand stumbles backward during a sobriety test in which Campbell directed him to follow a pen with his eyes.
“Are you gonna be able to … walk in a straight line without falling?” asks Campbell.
“Yeah,” says Allemand.
He stumbles toward Campbell. The deputy then halts the field sobriety tests and directs Allemand to put his hands behind his back and turn around.
“I am placing you under arrest for DUI,” Campbell tells Allemand, handcuffing him a second time.
“So what happens to my pickup?” asks Allemand.
It will be towed, says Campbell.
“Would you dang sure lock it up?” Allemand asks.
Said He Was A Legislator
Allemand voices discomfort from being handcuffed throughout the second half of the video.
“How long am I going to be in there, since this is Sunday?” asks Allemand.
“At least till tomorrow, I would imagine,” says Campbell.
Allemand did attend court and bond out the next day.
Campbell and the other deputy struggle to help Allemand into Campbell’s truck.
“I can’t do it,” says Allemand. “Oh, OK, push — push.”
“Why don’t you cooperate and get in there,” says the backup deputy.
Allemand asks them to unhook his handcuffs long enough for him to get in the truck.
The two deputies urge him to try again.
“If you can get in your truck you can get in this one,” says the backup deputy.
Allemand eventually makes the climb. Campbell buckles him.
Campbell tells the other deputy he needs to fuel up his truck, and Campbell does buy gas at the station.
“You want me to pay for it?” asks Allemand.
“No, no, the county’s got it,” answers Campbell.
“You know, I’m being very … cooperative,” says Allemand. “Can you take these f***ing handcuffs off?”
Campbell says they’ll be off soon, in the jail. “We’ll be there in about five minutes.”
The argument over whether Campbell had enough evidence to stop Allemand continues after the gas purchase.
“I’m not going to sit here and argue with you so, but, I will argue with you in court,” Allemand concludes. “Because you had no reason to pull me over.”
Allemand says he won’t enjoy spending a night in jail.
“And I know you already know that I am a legislator,” says Allemand. “When you pulled up my information you found out that i was a legislator. Is that correct?”
Campbell parries.
“So when you make legislation how do you like people to enforce it?” asks Campbell.
“I want it enforced,” answers Allemand. “I think you’re enforcing it in a pretty f***ed up way.”
Campbell chuckles. “I’m not trying to be mean man. Here’s the thing, you admitted to drinking and driving in front of me.”
Allemand says, “I think what is happening here is a little bit misinformed.”
Allemand says he doesn’t dislike Campbell.
“I don’t dislike you either, but I just want people to be safe,” says Campbell.
“So do I. And I’ve worked my ass off every day to make that happen,” says Allemand.
Campbell says it sounds like Allemand “has a bit of an issue” if he has to drink to calm his nerves.
The deputy pulls into the bay of the jail.
Allemand tells Campbell he appreciates him.
Into The Jail
In the jail bay, Campbell locks up his gun, then compiles Allemand’s possessions alongside a ledger.
Allemand jokes with the booking deputies. To a question about whether he has any drugs on him, Allemand says, “He took my Copenhagen away.”
Deputy Joel White helps Allemand out of the truck, has him spit out his chew, and walks him through the booking.
Allemand voices confusion and consternation about where his wallet is.
When told to take off his overshirt and belt buckle, Allemand says, “Look at that belt buckle. What does it say?”
“Honor Wyoming,” answers White. “I like it.”
“You know there’s not damn many of those belt buckles out there,” says Allemand.
White searches Allemand.
Once seated, Allemand derides Campbell.
“You know man, I have figured out, that in all reality — you’re an asshole,” he says.
Campbell hesitates. “I don’t know why you would say that, I thought I was pretty respectful.”
“These people in here are good, but you’re not,” says Allemand, gesturing toward the other booking staff.
Campbell says he has to read Allemand his implied consent terms.
“Oh, oh, OK. Go ahead asshole,” answers Allemand.
Under the implied consent terms, Allemand is not entitled to an attorney before taking the chemical test, Campbell notes.
Allemand questions that, and he refuses to take a breath test.
Campbell acknowledges that he’ll have to get a warrant.
Evidence About This
Vang told Cowboy State Daily on Friday that evidentiary disputes remain about whether the chemical test law enforcement ultimately performed on Allemand was lawful.
The law calls for the Department of Health to promulgate those procedures, whereas the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation lab had, Vang said.
And in his argument, that means the state will have to certify the DCI crime lab tech as an expert witness to admit his or her testimony about the test, Vang noted.
Here In About 30 Minutes
While having his booking photo shot, Allemand muses, “Wow! This is going to be on Cowboy State Daily,” and makes the commentary about his booking photo.
A deputy later tells his colleagues, “I feel like he’s going to be a real asshole here in about 30 minutes.”
“Good luck, guys,” says Campbell. “He said he’s a state legislator out of Casper.”
“He looks familiar,” says another deputy.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
