Casper Man Arrested for Damaging Downtown Businesses
Casper police have made an arrest in the destruction of several windows at a downtown establishment.
Jeffry Garner was booked into jail on a recommended charge of felony property destruction. He will likely make his initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
According to charging papers, police received a report of property damage at the Atrium Plaza shortly after 9 a.m. Saturday. The building owner told police that two windows and a door had been shot with a BB gun, causing roughly $5,000 worth of damage.
Similar damage was reported at Okes Jewelers, where three windows were apparently shot sometime after 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Police noted that all the damage at both locations appeared to have been the result of small, round projectiles.
Police interviewed a witness, who wished to remain anonymous and is not named in the affidavit, and learned that a man named Jeff had been walking his dog. Jeff was described as being roughly 40 years old with a stocky building and using a scooter-type wheelchair.
Jeff -- later identified as Jeffry Garner -- was said to be living in the Wyoming National Apartments at 204 E. 2nd St.
The witness told police that between 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. Saturday, she saw Garner take his dog around the corner. Garner then returned to the witness and asked if she "heard that."
When the witness asked what Garner was talking about, he allegedly produced a silver CO2-powered, automatic-style BB gun. He then allegedly fired three pellets across the street, according to the witness.
Three officers searched Garner's apartment at roughly 10 a.m. Tuesday. In Garner's bedroom, a BB gun matching the witness's description was found, along with a box of CO2 cartridges.
Garner told police that he uses the gun for protection from homeless people, who Garner claimed harass him for cigarettes and money.
An alleged marijuana pipe and sandwich bag containing a green, leafy substance were reportedly found in Garner's bedroom. A police officer collected them for destruction.
Garner claimed that he could not have been responsible for the damage, as he had not taken his gun outside since he last took it to the archery range. He also told police that in the incident described by the anonymous witness, "My BB gun had no pellets at the time, so it shot straight air."
Police arrested Garner and allowed him to put on fresh clothes and take his medication before he was transported to jail.
While being taken to the Natrona County Detention Center, Garner allegedly changed his story and said he could not have shot the windows because he had been out of town.
A booking photo of Garner was not available from the Casper Police Department as of Wednesday morning.