A Casper man has been arrested in connection with the BB gun vandalism of multiple downtown businesses.
According to a police affidavit, 50-year-old Jeffery Garner was arrested during the afternoon hours of May 22nd, on a recommended charge of Vandalism or Destruction of Property.
A front door and two window panels were shot out at the Atrium Plaza sometime between Friday night and early Saturday morning. Similar damage was also reported at Okes Jewelers. Officers say that the vandalism was reportedly committed using a BB gun.
During police investigation, it is reported that they spoke with two witnesses. One, an employee at a nearby business, who claimed to have overheard a man discussing committing the vandalism, and the other a bystander who claimed to have witnessed the shots being taken.
Through the witness statements, officers were able to identify Garner as a suspect. Garner lives in an apartment complex, adjacent to the Atrium plaza.
After identifying the suspect, police obtained a search warrant for Garner’s apartment.
When contacted, police say that Garner claimed that he did own a BB gun, and would take it outside for protection while walking his dog but, he denied using the BB gun to shoot the windows of the nearby business.
Police report that a BB gun was found in Garner’s apartment, as well as some BBs.
Garner is reported to have told officers that he goes up to a local archery range to shoot the BB gun. He also expressed to officers that he did not believe their search warrant to be legal.
Police further report that, when confronted about an eyewitness that said they had seen Garner fire his BB gun in the area, on the night in question, Garner said that the gun had no pellets and was only firing compressed air.
Garner also told officers that he had been drinking on the night of the vandalism.
Officers report that after taking Garner into custody, he told officers that he could not have shot the windows out, because he was not in town.
All of those cited or arrested are presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law. Charges are subject to change following official filings from the Natrona County District Attorney’s Office.
A book-in photo for Garner was not available at the time of this report.
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