Woman Flees Car in Casper, Driver Arrested for Domestic Battery

A Casper man was arrested Sunday after he allegedly held a woman against her will while driving into traffic on Interstate 25.

Larry Lee Rondeau, 40, was arrested on recommended charges of felonious restraint, domestic battery, DUI, open container, driving with no insurance and driving under suspension.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, police were called after Rondeau was allegedly seen driving in and out of traffic near Second and Beverly in Casper. The caller said that a woman passenger had the side door open and was trying to escape.

At roughly 6:40 p.m., a Casper police officer saw a vehicle matching the description "come barreling" into a gas station parking lot on Center Street. The vehicle was also smoking, as if it was on fire.

The officer contacted the driver, Rondeau, and immediately handcuffed him. Searching the vehicle, the officer found an empty pint of Black Velvet whiskey, marijuana wax and marijuana paraphernalia, the affidavit alleges.

Rondeau allegedly told police that he and the victim were having an argument. He said he was angry because he is a recovering methamphetamine addict and spent 22 years as a general in the Sinaloa Cartel. The argument escalated, but Rondeau denied hitting the victim aside from a backhanded slap.

The affidavit states that Rondeau claimed to drop the victim off at her friend's house, but he could not give even a vague description of where the friend lives.

Police spoke with the victim at the Wyoming Medical Center emergency room. She said  Rondeau was drunk and accusing her of cheating on him. Rondeau picked the victim up from work and they were in the 1500 block of Centennial Court when Rondeau hit her below her right eye.

Rondeau continued punching the victim, according to the affidavit.

As Rondeau slowed down, the victim attempted to escape the vehicle but was violently yanked in by her hair.

Eventually, Rondeau ended up driving the wrong way on Interstate 25 with the victim still in the car. He turned the car around while still on the interstate and exited on South McKinley.

When Rondeau stopped at a red light, the victim saw an opportunity to escape and jumped from the car. She crawled under three train cars before running through the bushes. The victim said she feared for her life and was trying to hide from Rondeau.

She also said that Rondeau was regularly physically violent with her.

Police ran a criminal history check on Rondeau and learned he had a felony warrant out of Montana for possession of dangerous drugs. Rondeau's blew into a breathalyzer with a result of .16.

He is expected to appear in Natrona County Circuit Court Monday afternoon.