Deputy feared for his safety, shot & wounded man in car

WAUKESHA (WITI) -- Waukesha County officials are sorting through the details of a deputy-involved shooting that happened Monday, June 2nd just after 7:30 p.m.

The Waukesha County Communication Center received a call from a citizen requesting a welfare check of her roommate who did not return home.

Authorities were advised that a 52-year-old male subject from Big Bend was possibly sitting in his vehicle, which was described as an older model burgundy Buick Regal, in a wooded area off of Hillview Drive in the Town of Vernon.

Just after 8:15 p.m., three deputies arrived in the area that the vehicle was believed to have gone. They located the vehicle off the road in a wooded area.

The initial investigation showed that the 52-year-old subject had been drinking, and had a previous injury from a fall earlier that day. Officials say he was believed to be a danger to either himself or others.

Officials say as the first deputy approached the vehicle, the man inside did something to make the deputy fear for his safety -- and the deputy shot the man.

The man in the vehicle was struck once in the left forearm near the wrist. He was taken to Froedtert Hospital, and is in stable condition. He underwent surgery Tuesday morning.

The deputy who fired the shot is a 42-year-old man who has been on the department for nine years. The deputy has been placed on Administrative Leave, which is the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department policy, pending the investigation.   

Officials are not identifying the man who was shot -- or the deputy at this point.

Waukesha County Sheriff Daniel Trawicki said Tuesday deputies searched the man's car for weapons -- but declined to say whether any were found.

Darryl Bailey says he witnessed the entire incident.

"They were talking to me and looking out this way and asking if I knew if he`d be back there and what`s the layout. All of a sudden, I hear sirens and I see a Tahoe flying around this corner, and I see another one there," Bailey said.

Bailey didn't hear the gunshot -- but says he heard what followed.

"They asked him 'how`s your arm?' He was swearing -- 'ow it hurts.' They asked him 'how`s your arm' and then he really kicked it up another level with his profanities, shouting 'you shot me! You shot me! You mother f-ers! You shot me on my own property!' And the cop said 'I shot you because you were reaching for something. I shot you in the arm.' He's lucky he wasn't killed," Bailey said.

The city of Waukesha Police Department is handling the investigation.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.