NEENAH — The police chief in Neenah, Wisconsin says a dashcam video appears to show that officers who fatally shot an armed hostage in December gave no warning before they fired outside of a motorcycle shop.
Neenah Police Chief Kevin Wilkinson commented Thursday, April 28th on the video, which was obtained and published online by the USA Today Network . It appears to show that Michael Funk wasn't warned on December 5th as he ran from the Eagle Nation Cycles shop, where hostages were being held.
Neenah police had said shortly afterward that Funk ignored orders to drop his gun.
Wilkinson told The Associated Press that the initial information about Funk ignoring orders was from witness interviews, but that the nearly five-minute video shows there appear to have been no warnings.
Wilkinson also said officers are not required to give warnings.
Theresa Mason-Funk, Michael Funk's wife, has filed a $3.5 million “statement of claims” against the City of Neenah and police officers.
Brian Flatoff is facing 16 felony charges in connection with this hostage situation.
Prosecutors say Flatoff went to Eagle Nation Cycles on December 5th to confront a man about a motorcycle, but instead took hostages.
Flatoff has pleaded not guilty.
He will be in court on May 16th for a plea hearing.
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