A 27-year-old rural Powell man was arrested last week after Cody police said he threatened to kill construction workers and threw traffic cones into the street at the site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple in Cody. Court records appear to indicate the incident was related to mental illness.

Tyrel Nisley was charged with felony aggravated assault and battery, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. 

At the hearing, Park County Circuit Court Judge Joey Darrah agreed with the prosecutor’s recommendation of a $25,000 cash only bond. If Nisley is released, he is forbidden to go within 500 feet of the temple, required to stay within Park County unless given written permission by the court to leave, and not allowed to possess firearms, destructive devices or other dangerous weapons. 

According to an affidavit from Cody Police Officer Brandon Tilman in the affidavit, he and Officer Jason Potter responded around 9 a.m. March 9  to a report of a person throwing signs and saying they were going to kill everyone, and a second report that the person was swerving their vehicle toward construction workers.

Tilman said witnesses told him that the person, eventually identified as Nisley, stopped near a construction sign and cones, began throwing cones and making derogatory statements about people of the Mormon faith, and threats such as, “‘I’m going to f—g kill you!’”

When a worker started to walk toward Nisley, Nisley “drove the Toyota at a high rate of speed, crossing both lanes of travel in the direction of” the worker, with another witness agreeing that “it appeared Nisley was attempting to swerve the Toyota at the direction” of the man, the affidavit says.

After Officer Potter pulled Nisley over, Nisley reportedly told the officer that the temple was located on stolen land that belonged to Nisley, which is why he was throwing cones. At a March 10 court appearance, he denied driving the vehicle toward workers. 

Following his arrest, authorities placed a so-called Title 25 hold on Nisley, which involves providing support — and potentially involuntary hospitalization — for a person experiencing a mental health crisis.

Nisley’s father, who lives out of state, spoke to the court about his son’s mental health issues during last week’s hearing. Nisley said he had tried to get help. 

“I came to the Cody Police Department months ago and asked for help,” he said, adding that he suffers from bipolar disorder and PTSD. “I went to Billings Clinic and asked for help for these matters, and they turned me away … so I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

Darrah responded by saying that maybe he’ll now get the help he needs, the same sentiment Nisley’s father had expressed earlier. 

Nisley’s mental health may lead to a delay in the case, as Friday his attorney, Sarah Miles, filed a motion for competency evaluation which, if approved, will mean Nisley will undergo an evaluation to determine if he is competent to proceed toward trial.