Casper Man Tries To Take Officer’s Gun, Says He’s Going To ‘Join The Militia’

CASPER — A local man who tried to pull the gun out of a Casper police officer’s holster is in jail on suspicion of two felony charges of interference with a police officer and a third charge of interference.

Trinity Stark Rowland, 23, was already on probation for another crime when he allegedly informed his probation officer last week that he wouldn’t conform to his probation conditions because he was going to Texas to “join the militia,” according to court documents.

So, his probation officer asked the Casper Police Department to locate Rowland and detain him on a probation hold.

The next day, Thursday, Rowland was located by Casper officers at a sandwich shop. He told an officer he “intended to go to Texas” to “join the war,” then said he was “declaring martial law.” As the officer explained why he was being contacted, Rowland ran out of the shop, despite the officer instructing him to stop, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in his case.

Officers ran after Rowland across Center Street and then two blocks south as he refused to stop, according to court documents. Other officers arrived to help.

Running Down An Alleyway

“Rowland was located running down an alleyway adjacent to the south side of the federal courthouse by Officer Jacob Ondich,” court documents state. “Rowland was told by Ondich to stop. Rowland responded by saying, ‘F*** you!’”

Court documents allege Rowland assumed a fighting stance, was tackled by Ondich and then Rowland allegedly tried to pull the officer’s weapon out of his holster with both hands. Another officer arrived and used a taser on Rowland, which allowed him to be handcuffed, court documents state.

Ondich received a laceration to his right knee that required stitches at the hospital.

While being booked into the Natrona County jail, Rowland is alleged to have said he “blacked out and had no idea” that he’d tried to take away the officer’s weapon, according to court documents.

Rowland remains in jail under a $100,000 cash or surety bond.

He was charged in December with criminal trespass and was arrested in 2022 for unlawfully taking a vehicle from a Casper high school without permission and driving it to Cody.

Both counts of interference with a police officer carry punishment of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The misdemeanor interference charge carries up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine, or both.

The case is ongoing.

Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.