The Natrona County Sheriff's Office has issued a citation to the man who allegedly hit the wife of Casper City Manager John Patterson, Sgt. Aaron Shatto said Thursday.

Sam Wiseman was cited for unlawful contact of Cindy Patterson during the Casper City Council meeting on Tuesday.

Unlawful contact is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a $750 fine. It is a non-arrestable offense.

Wiseman will make his initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court on May 22.

Wiseman has been the long-time general secretary of the Jewish Community Association of Casper. He could not be reached for comment on Thursday morning.

On Tuesday, Cindy Patterson was in the audience during a sometimes contentious meeting. Her husband told K2 Radio that she stepped outside to the lobby to use the restroom. By the time she re-entered the lobby, a group of people who had objected to some of the council's actions had left the meeting and were gathered there, John Patterson said.

She began taking pictures of the group including Ken Ball, who criticized council's placement of some issues on the consent agenda that he believed deserved more serious discussion.

While taking pictures, Wiseman allegedly got in her face. Cindy Patterson called her husband, who had briefly excused himself from the meeting and told him she was scared.

Wiseman was clutching some papers in his hand and then allegedly hit her on the shoulder.

John Patterson came into council chambers and yelled that he could not believe what was happening in this city, that his wife had just been assaulted.

Many of the council members, city staff and citizens went outside where Cindy Patterson was crying, talking to her husband and to Casper Police Chief Jim Wetzel.

A television reporter, who was interviewing a Realtor about a proposed subdivision — an issue not related to the controversial ones brought up during the meeting, was able to get a picture of Wiseman and his car.

Wetzel declined to comment on the case, saying Casper police turned over the investigation to the sheriff’s office to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest.

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