Wisconsin Man Arrested on Weapons Charges Following Disturbance at Stillwater Hotel

The man authorities arrested in Lakeland last month for fleeing police across the frozen St. Croix River is back in jail—this time on alleged disorderly conduct and weapons charges.

Stillwater police were called to a disturbance at America’s Best Value last weekend and arrested James Stephen Meyer, 60, of St. Croix Falls, for disorderly conduct, possession of an illegal switch-blade, having an uncased rifle in a motor vehicle and carrying/possessing a pistol in a motor vehicle without a permit.

According to police:

Police were called to America’s Best Value at about 12:46 p.m. March 30 on a report Meyer was being disruptive toward hotel staff members. When the hotel manager told Meyer he had to leave, an argument ensued and police were called.

When police arrived Meyer was “calm” and told police he had gotten somewhat upset when hotel staff told him he would have to check out of the hotel. Meyer reportedly told police he had made previous arrangements—although he hadn’t paid—to stay at the hotel for another week.

While officers detained Meyer, police saw at least two firearms—a handgun under the front seat and an uncased rifle in the back—in visible sight inside Meyer’s vehicle.

Police note that the revolver found under the front seat was uncased and fully loaded. The rifle in the back seat was uncased and not loaded.

While police looked inside his vehicle, Meyer allegedly asked what the problem was, saying “in Wisconsin you can drive around without firearms being in a case,” the report states. The officer then asked Meyer what state he was in, to which Meyer replied, “Oops. I’m in Minnesota, aren’t I?”

Meyer has valid permit to carry in the state of Wisconsin, but not in Minnesota, according to police. Meyer reportedly told police he thought a permit to carry in any state had reciprocity, and was valid in any other state.

Police informed Meyer that wasn't the case, and firearms need to be cased while in a vehicle in Minnesota.

Meyer told police there were several other guns in his trunk, and that he planned to go to a gun show at “an unknown location” later that day.

Meyer told police the rifle was in the back seat because the day before he had been shopping, and needed to place the rifle in the back seat in order to make room for other packages in the trunk.

Police located five long guns and another pistol in the trunk. Those six firearms were confiscated for safe-keeping, and will be returned to Meyer at a later date.

In addition to the weapons and disorderly conduct charges in Minnesota, Meyer cureently faces felony fleeing charges out of St. Croix County, Wisc.