Casper Police: Felon Arrested With Gun, Meth
Casper police say a man was arrested early Thursday morning after a traffic stop led officers to find a gun and methamphetamine inside the man's vehicle.
Ryan C. Spencer, 36, was booked into jail on recommended charges of methamphetamine possession, interference and probation revocation by a police officer. He will likely make his initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court at 2 p.m. Thursday.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, an officer was on patrol in the area of Ninth and Ash Streets when she saw a yellow vehicle with a burned-out headlight. She then saw the vehicle perform an illegal U-turn, so she stopped the vehicle at Eighth and Ash.
The driver, Spencer, kept reaching between the driver's seat and center console while the officer was speaking to him. Spencer also allegedly stalled when asked for his identification.
Spencer was asked to step out of the vehicle and told the officer that he did not have any weapons on his person. The officer then saw that Spencer had a knife sheathed on his right hip, and the officer ended up placing Spencer in handcuffs.
A loaded handgun magazine was found in Spencer's left-rear pocket. As the officer walked Spencer toward her patrol vehicle, Spencer reportedly appeared to be nervous and under the influence of a controlled substance.
When the officer let go of Spencer to unlock her patrol car, Spencer took off running, still handcuffed. Spencer ran and ended up falling about half a block from David Street. The officer caught up and called for medical assistance; Spencer was taken to Wyoming Medical Center.
At the hospital, Spencer told the officer that he had taken a suboxone pill earlier in the day, and he had no prescription for the pill. He said that he ran because he knew the officer would find a gun in his vehicle, and he is not allowed to possess a firearm because he is a felon.
Spencer also said that he was on probation out of California for having possession of a high-capacity magazine. Previously, he told the officer, he had been convicted in Wyoming of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
The officer reviewed Spencer's criminal history and noted that he apparently had a history of carrying guns while he was in possession of controlled substances.
At the jail, a baggie containing 14 grams of methamphetamine was found on Spencer's person. Meanwhile, another officer searched Spencer's vehicle and found a Kel-Tec PMR 30 .22-caliber handgun. The gun was loaded with a 30-round magazine with one round in the chamber.
The arresting officer forwarded the firearm case to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.