Waukesha tactical situation, suspect arrested: police
WAUKESHA, Wis. - The Waukesha Police Department on Friday night, April 29 responded to an incident at a hotel that developed into a tactical situation. The suspect was arrested.
Around 8:50 p.m., a little more than two hours after the incident began, the sheriff's department alerted that the situation was "all clear." Law enforcement remained at the scene, but there was no threat to the public.
FOX6 News at the scene arrived to find a massive law enforcement response at the Baymont Inn & Suites on Moreland Boulevard near Main Street around 6:45 p.m. People on the second floor were seen being helped down on a fire truck ladder.
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According to Waukesha police, authorities were notified just before 6 p.m. of a 44-year-old man yelling and "described as being out of control as someone was at his door." Prior to police arrival, sheriff's deputies had attempted to serve a commitment order to the man and taken him to a mental health facility.
Officers had information, police say, that the man had threatened a staff member at a group home. He allegedly said he had a gun and "may visit" that person.
Large police presence at Baymont Inn & Suites, Waukesha
Upon officers' arrival to the man's door at the hotel, and while trying to contact him, police said he could be heard saying something to the effect of: "I'm gonna kill you." Officers then heard a gunshot, a person "rapidly approaching" the room's closed door and then a second gunshot. One of the officers fired his gun "to defend himself and in defense of the officers" nearby.
A perimeter was established within the hotel's hallway, and tactical personnel and other law enforcement agencies were called in. The suspect was ultimately taken into custody without incident. Police said the man has an arrest history for offenses such as repeated sexual assault of a child, operating while intoxicated and disorderly conduct.
Tactical vehicle responds to Waukesha hotel incident near Moreland and Main
No one was injured during the incident, police said.
The officer who fired his gun has nine years of experience. The Waukesha Police Department will be investigating.
Witnesses describe scene
One witness, who asked not to be identified, told FOX6 that he had been around all day, and police told him there was a shooter involved. Another person said he was in the hotel when it all happened.
"Got the warning as I pulled into the area that there’s a situation," said Carrie Schroeder of Menomonee Falls, whose husband was in the hotel. "Making sure he’s OK"
Schroeder said she was on her way to meet her husband when she came upon the scene.
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"He said he heard someone say ‘shots fired.’ He did hear a single shot. And I’ve seen a SWAT team on what looks like an armored truck," she said.
People in the area received an alert that referred to the incident around 6:45 p.m. Police advised the public to stay away from the area. FOX6 spoke to Schroeder just after that alert went out. At last check, her husband was still inside at the time.
"Making sure that he’s OK, and just making sure we’re all going to be OK," said Schroeder.
Large police presence at Baymont Inn & Suites, Waukesha
About 15 minutes later, Brian Schroeder was able to leave the hotel after police questioning. He said he heard what he thought was a gunshot and police telling people to stay in their rooms.
"On edge to say the least," he said. "It felt like everything stopped and sped up at the same time.
"I missed the police coming in just by minutes. I heard them and just grateful to be safe and sound."
The couple is happy to be in the clear and reunited.
"The fact that I’m uninjured is just a big relief," said Brian.
The Carroll University Center for Graduate Studies, which is located directly behind the hotel, was put on lockdown due to the incident.