CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Police say that they have arrested a 24-year old Cheyenne man after it is alleged that he pointed a firearm at another driver while operating a stolen vehicle.
According to documents filed with the Laramie County Circuit Court, Benjamin Stamets now faces a felony charge of Aggravated Assault – Threaten with Weapon and a misdemeanor count of Theft after the Cheyenne Police Department placed in into custody on May 17th, 2020.
Police say that one of their officers was dispatched to investigate a road rage incident that allegedly occurred on East Lincolnway during the early evening hours of May 17th.
They report that they made contact with another driver who claimed that another driver, later identified as Stamets, was tailgating and driving erratically behind him.
The accuser said when Stamets pulled up alongside them at a stoplight, that he pointed a black pistol at them and shouted that he would kill them. The alleged victim went on to tell authorities that he was afraid for his life.
An affidavit filed in the case says that the accuser described the suspect as a white male with blond hair and a dark-colored ball cap. The accuser told the police that the suspect vehicle was a silver Pontiac and was able to provide them with the license plate number of the suspect vehicle.
Investigators say that vehicle the accuser described had been reported stolen in Cheyenne the day before.
The affidavit reports that when the authorities made contact with the owner of the reportedly stolen vehicle they were told that Stamets had taken it without their permission.
According to the police the value of the allegedly stolen vehicle was listed at $350.
Police say that later that evening the suspect vehicle was located in a parking lot on the 300 block of E. Lincolnway with Stamet in the driver’s seat. They report that Stamets had blonde hair, and was wearing a black ball cap at the time officers made contact with him.
Supporting documents allege that police also located a black 9mm pistol on the front of the passenger seat of the suspect vehicle.
During an interview with Stamets, investigators say that he admitted to being involved in a road rage incident and to having taken the silver Pontiac without permission from the owner.
Court papers say that Stamets made his initial appearance in Laramie County Court on May 19th, 2020. He was given a $2000 bond by Judge Denise Nau. Wyoming statutes say that if convicted on the Aggravated Assault felony charge, Stamets could face up to 10 years in prison and/or a 10k fine.
At the time this story was written no booking photo was available for Benjamin Stamets.
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 Laramie County District Attorney’s Office.
