Casper Man Charged With Public Intoxication, Hitting Children

A Casper man was arrested for public intoxication and hitting children outside the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant Thursday.

Police responded to a call about 9:30 p.m. about a disturbance at the east side restaurant where they spoke to three children and their parents, according to an affidavit filed with Natrona County Circuit Court.

The children, whose stories were corroborated by each other and their parents, were playing with balls outside the restaurant when Jesse Harris came outside. He began harassing the children and making fun of one of them for being from Texas, according to the affidavit.

One of the balls hit Harris in the chest, and he began grabbing at the children. He elbowed one child in the stomach, elbowed another in the face, and hit the third on the right ear, according to the affidavit.

Harris initially refused to speak to an officer, then insisted nothing had happened. The officer observed Harris had slightly slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes. Harris told the officer he had been outside smoking a cigarette and began playing ball with the children, and may have tripped and landed on one of the children.

One child insisted Harris had not tripped.

Harris was arrested for public intoxication and three counts of misdemeanor assault and battery. While at the Natrona County Detention Center, Harris was found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.15 percent, or nearly twice the legal limit.