70-Year-Old Cheyenne Man Accused Of Punching Kid In Face For Riding Bike Too Fast

A 70-year-old Cheyenne man is facing a felony child abuse charge after allegedly punching a 12-year-old boy in the face during an argument over riding a bicycle too fast in a park. The altercation left both the man and the boy with black eyes, according to court documents filed in Laramie County Circuit Court.

The incident unfolded just before 8 p.m. Monday at a Cheyenne park. Glenn Patterson told police he confronted the boy because he believed the child was riding his bicycle dangerously fast around other kids. Patterson said he did not know the child personally and was not responsible for him, but felt compelled to say something due to safety concerns, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Patterson told officers the boy responded by calling him a “faggot.” The 70-year-old then admitted to grabbing the boy by the helmet and lifting him off the bicycle. Patterson said the child “sucker-punched” him in the face from behind, leaving him with a swollen black eye and a cut on his nose. Police noted “a large, swollen black eye” and a “small laceration” on Patterson’s face.

However, witnesses—including Patterson’s own granddaughter—told investigators that Patterson initiated the physical contact by grabbing the child first. According to the affidavit, the granddaughter said she watched the boy punch her grandfather after being grabbed, and then watched Patterson punch the boy back in the face. Another witness reportedly corroborated that version of events.

The 12-year-old told police he only hit Patterson because the older man refused to let go of him. Then, Patterson punched him in the face hard enough to leave bruising around his eye. Officers documented the injuries on the child as well.

By the end of the encounter, police said both combatants—separated by roughly 58 years of age—were left with black eyes.

A warrant for Patterson’s arrest was issued Tuesday. He was formally charged with felony child abuse, which under Wyoming law carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Patterson will next appear in about 10 days for a preliminary hearing, where a judge will decide if there is enough evidence to move the case to District Court.