Casper man accused of yanking on police officer’s testicles, biting him in groin

CASPER — A 21-year-old man accused of pulling a Casper police officer’s testicles and biting another officer in the groin could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted. Sylvester Jakeson Seaton made his initial appearance in Casper Circuit Court on Monday on three felony counts of interference with a law enforcement officer and one misdemeanor of the same charge.

Casper police were dispatched to the 1400 block of Kearney Avenue for a disturbance about 10 p.m. Sunday. A woman reported hearing “yelling, screaming, and breaking things” in a nearby back yard. Officers arriving at the scene were told by a resident that people living in a small camper in his back yard were causing the disturbance.

When officers approached the camper, they saw two men and one woman inside. One of the men appeared to be getting ready to attack law enforcement. A 26-year-old man inside the camper was seen pulling a box cutter from his pocket, opening the blade, and crouching on the floor near the door. A 20-year-old woman opened the door and closed it behind her. When she opened it again, officers saw the man bleeding from his left arm. He reportedly told police he cut himself “to see if his knife was still sharp.”

As the man left the camper with his arm bleeding significantly, an officer addressed Seaton, who appeared “dazed,” “confused,” and “possibly intoxicated.” When Seaton tried to leave the camper, he was instructed not to walk away. Instead, he approached one of the officers. Another officer attempted to de-escalate by putting Seaton in handcuffs. Seaton actively resisted but was handcuffed without injury.

At that point, Seaton continued to fight and was placed on the ground. The 26-year-old with the bleeding arm told Seaton to comply. Instead, Seaton kept rolling on the ground trying to get up despite police commands.

Seaton then rolled and got his hands on one officer’s testicles, grabbing them away from the officer’s body. The officer pulled away, but Seaton kept hold of his testicles and pants while simultaneously biting the shin of the officer’s partner, breaking the skin and causing bruising. The officer whose testicles were grabbed struck Seaton in the face twice, which was “effective” in getting him to let go.

Additional officers arrived to help. Seaton continued to fight and roll on the ground, maneuvering his head and mouth to the groin area of the same officer whose testicles he had grabbed. He bit the officer in the upper right groin area, ripping his pants and causing an abrasion that broke the skin and caused bleeding. The officer said it felt like he had been stabbed in the groin. He hit Seaton again in the face, making Seaton roll away and attempt to bite other officers.

Officers finally gained control of Seaton and placed him in a restraint. He was arrested and charged for interfering and causing bodily injury to peace officers while they were performing their duties. Both officers were treated by Banner Wyoming Medical Center for their injuries.

Each of the three felony interference charges carries a potential penalty of 10 years in prison. The misdemeanor interference charge is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Seaton remains in the Natrona County jail on a $50,000 cash or surety bond.