BLM Agent Charged: Murder in Wyoming Bar Brawl

(PatriotNews.net) – Federal BLM officer faces second-degree murder charges for allegedly killing a man with a prohibited chokehold during a Wyoming bar brawl, exposing dangerous overreach by off-duty feds trained in lethal tactics unfit for civilian streets.

Story Snapshot

Richard “Deak” Dollard, 53-year-old BLM field officer, applied a 26-30 second rear naked chokehold to Evan Denevan during a Jan. 9, 2026, fight at Maverick Restaurant Lounge in Lander, Wyoming.
Denevan went limp, received no aid from Dollard or family members Justin Dollard (brother) and Jesse Dollard (nephew), and was pronounced dead at the scene.
All three Dollards charged: Richard with second-degree murder, others as accessories; video evidence and witnesses confirm prolonged hold without intervention.
Incident renews scrutiny on federal agents using law enforcement restraints off-duty, echoing banned techniques from cases like Eric Garner.

Bar Fight Erupts in Small-Town Wyoming

At approximately 11:15 p.m. on January 9, 2026, a brawl broke out inside the Maverick Restaurant Lounge in Lander, Wyoming. Jesse Dollard, 21, pointed at Evan Denevan, prompting a verbal challenge. Justin Dollard, 54, approached and exchanged punches with Denevan. The altercation involved 8-10 participants in an alcohol-fueled environment. Lander Police secured the site as a crime scene. This small Fremont County town now grapples with the fatal outcome of what started as a bar dispute.

Federal Officer Applies Lethal Chokehold

Richard “Deak” Dollard, 53, a U.S. Bureau of Land Management field officer, intervened in the fight. Dollard placed Denevan in a rear naked chokehold for 26-30 seconds, restricting blood flow or airway. Justin Dollard pulled Denevan’s hood and kicked him during the hold. Denevan fell limp. Video footage captured the sequence, with witnesses uniformly stating “Deak choked him.” Dollard’s training in restraints raises concerns about off-duty application in civilian settings.

No Dollard provided aid post-incident; they returned to their bar side. Bystanders initiated CPR. First responders arrived, found no pulse, and pronounced Denevan dead on scene. The probable cause affidavit details these facts from video, interviews, and detective analysis. Detective Patrick noted the hold’s mechanics exacerbated by pulls, linking to asphyxia risks seen in precedents.

Charges Filed, No Special Treatment for Feds

Charges announced January 13, 2026: Richard Dollard faces second-degree murder. Justin and Jesse charged as accessories before the fact to second-degree murder or manslaughter. All three arrested and in custody. Lander Police, Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation, and Fremont County Attorney’s Office collaborated on the probe. Suspects invoked rights to attorneys or gave limited statements. No trial date set as of January 15.

Family claims Dollard used de-escalation training to stop the fight, but evidence shows prolonged hold without aid. Wyoming prosecutors signal accountability, bypassing any federal immunity for off-duty actions. This tests liability for federal law enforcement personnel. Parallels exist with non-police cases and state bans on chokeholds outside deadly force scenarios.

Broader Scrutiny on Chokehold Use and Federal Training

Chokeholds face bans in many jurisdictions post-Eric Garner’s 2014 death, which prompted New York’s Anti-Chokehold Act with up to 15 years for causing injury or death. Federal agencies like ICE and DHS prohibit them, yet violations persist without consistent punishment. This case heightens focus on BLM training protocols. Short-term implications include legal proceedings and potential internal reviews; long-term, policy audits for off-duty restraints.

Lander community faces eroded trust in law enforcement amid the secured bar and investigation. Denevan’s family seeks justice; Dollard families endure legal strain. Politically, aggressive state charging underscores no favoritism for federal agents, aligning with demands for equal accountability under the law. Renewed debates question training spillover into civilian violence.