Oklahoma Man Arrested for Trying to Run Over Mills Nightclub Manager

An Oklahoma man was arrested for allegedly trying to run over the manager of a nightclub west of Mills and then pointing a gun at him early Tuesday morning, according to the Natrona County Sheriff's Office.

Karl Grant Gustke, 33, of El Reno, Okla., was charged with one count of aggravated assault, according to an affidavit filed by a sheriff's deputy.

During his initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Gustke told Judge Steve Brown that he is unemployed and was in Casper for one night while traveling from Montana to Oklahoma.

Brown set his bond at $500,000 because of the seriousness of the charge, that he posed a flight risk and was out on bond for a felony in Texas.

The case began at 2:07 a.m. when Sheriff's officers were notified by a bartender at Rack's Saloon, 1910 Talc Road, who said Gustke tried to beat up the manager, and then tried to run him over with his car before pointing a gun at him.

An officer arrived and spoke to the manager, who said Gustke was trying to get the female bartender's phone number. The manager asked him to leave.

After Gustke refused, the manger grabbed Gustke and took him to the door. Gustke turned around, the manager saw that as a threat and slapped him before pushing him outside.

Gustke asked what kind of vehicle the manager had, adding he should be careful.

Gustke then told him "'I got something for you,'" went to his Mercedes car about 40 feet away, popped the trunk, grabbed a 10-inch-long object, and walked toward the manager who went inside and grabbed a bat, according to the affidavit.

The manager went outside and saw Gustke entering his car. Gustke started it, put it in reverse and drove towards the manager who stepped over a guard rail to avoid being hit.

Gustke drove around the building, pulled up next to the manager's truck, got out and pointed a pistol at the manager who was about 15 feet away.

The manager went inside, locked the doors, told people what happened and kept everyone inside until law enforcement arrived.

Soon after the initial call, two sheriff's officers located the vehicle on Old West Yellowstone Highway near Redman Road, contacted Gustke, and recovered a pistol from the front seat. Officers also recovered the 10-inch-long object described by the manager.

They arrested Gustke and booked him into the county jail.