Police: During standoff at New Berlin Pharmacy, Scott Wimer consumed 21 oxycodone pills

MILWAUKEE COUNTY (WITI) -- 43-year-old Scott Wimer of Milwaukee has been charged in connection with a standoff at a New Berlin pharmacy that occurred one week ago -- on Wednesday, July 9th.

Wimer faces two felony charges: armed robbery, repeater and possession of a firearm by a felon, repeater.

Just after 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9th, New Berlin police were dispatched to the New Berlin Pharmacy on W. Greenfield Avenue in New Berlin -- to investigate a report of a man with a shotgun inside the pharmacy.

Citizen witnesses who exited the pharmacy called 911 to report the incident.

Scott Wimer

The complaint against Wimer says police spoke with a pharmacy employee outside of the pharmacy. That employee said Wimer was inside the pharmacy when she showed up for work around 4:00 p.m. The complaint says Wimer placed his driver's license, along with a prescription on the counter.

The complaint says the pharmacy employee told police the pharmacist, Robert Steib, refused to fill the prescription -- saying it wasn't legitimate. The complaint says after he was told several times that the prescription wouldn't be filled, Wimer left the pharmacy -- returning a short time later with a shotgun.

The complaint against Wimer says law enforcement officials surrounded the pharmacy. They were made aware that Wimer was inside the pharmacy with the pharmacist, Robert Steib.

Just before 6:30 p.m., Wimer surrendered to law enforcement officers.

The complaint says officers detected a strong odor of intoxicants coming from Wimer, and also noticed he appeared to be under the influence of drugs. The complaint says Wimer told police he had consumed 21 oxycodone pills while he was inside the pharmacy -- saying he took the pills "in an attempt to kill himself -- because he knew police had surrounded the building." The complaint says Wimer told police "he wanted to die, instead of going to jail."

Wimer was taken to the hospital -- and was admitted.

The complaint says police entered the pharmacy after Wimer surrendered, and they were able to recover the unloaded shotgun.

Police then spoke with the pharmacist, Robert Steib.

The complaint says Steib told police he noticed Wimer's prescription for 21 oxycodone had a DEA number that was expired -- making the prescription illegal. Steib also told police Wimer's state insurance coverage denied coverage of the prescription -- and so he told Wimer he could not fill the prescription.

That's when Steib says Wimer became upset -- eventually exiting the pharmacy and returning with the shotgun.

The complaint says Steib told police Wimer had the shotgun pointed at him, and was waving the barrel over Steib's head -- saying "You are going to fill my prescription now." That's when Steib hit the alarm button, and began to process the prescription.

The complaint says Wimer looked away from Steib for a moment, and that's when Steib grabbed a taser and pulled the trigger, but the taser didn't work.

The complaint says Steib told Wimer the state insurance had denied coverage, and he would have to pay $33.25 in cash for the prescription. The complaint says Wimer only had $26, and Steib accepted the payment.

The complaint says Wimer then grabbed the prescription, and offered Steib the shotgun -- saying "Just take the gun" -- further stating the gun was not loaded.

At the hospital, police spoke with Wimer -- who said he wanted to commit suicide because he is currently homeless, living out of his vehicle that doesn't run, doesn't have a job, and his wife has cancer, according to the complaint. The complaint says Wimer told police he is a welder, and he hurt himself on the job -- which resulted in him being prescribed vicodin and oxycodone.

The complaint says Wimer told police he is addicted to pain medication and has been fighting with his insurance company because he cannot afford the $200 visits.

The complaint says Wimer told police he as having a difficult time getting his prescription filled -- and said he had been to a couple of pharmacies. The complaint says Wimer told police he borrowed his friend's vehicle and went to the New Berlin Pharmacy -- "slamming a half pint of vodka" before entering the pharmacy.

The complaint says Wimer told police he brought the shotgun into the pharmacy "with the intent to scare the pharmacist."