Prosecutor: Natrona County SRT Used Tear Gas to End Standoff

A special response team consisting of officers from various Natrona County law enforcement agencies had to use tear gas to end an hours-long standoff early Saturday, a prosecutor said.

At 11:16 p.m., Friday officers from the Casper Police Department were called to the 900 block of South Conwell Street for a reported domestic violence situation, the Casper Police Department said in a press release.

The victim told police she had been physically abused by Connor Boyden, who was still inside the residence.

"Officers were provided evidence in which Boyden was threatening to shoot anybody, including law enforcement officers, that approached the residence of which he was barricading himself in," the release states.

Because of Boyden's alleged threats, officers activated the special response team, which consists of law enforcement from various agencies in Natrona County. The SRT is similar to a SWAT team.

After negotiating with Boyden for hours, the release says, SRT members used "less-lethal tactics" to get him to peacefully exit the home.

In court Monday, Assistant Natrona County District Attorney Kevin Taheri said the SRT had to use tear gas in order to get Boyden to come out of the home.

No one was injured.

Police learned that Boyden had contacted 25-year-old Casper resident Brittney Kraft, who agreed to hide Boyden's firearms, the release says.

Boyden, 24, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, one count of felonious restraint and one count of domestic battery.

Kraft is charged with accessory after the fact.

Boyden is being held on $200,000 cash or surety bond while Kraft is jailed on $2,000 cash or surety.

The incident is still under investigation.