Waukesha standoff, tactical response; man taken into custody
WAUKESHA, Wis. - An hours-long standoff in Waukesha ended with a man in handcuffs on Saturday night, Oct, 5.
The tactical response involved explosives, brute force and drones. FOX6 News cameras captured the man in handcuffs bleeding from the head. An officer also appeared to have been injured.
According to the Waukesha Police Department, just before 1 p.m., officers responded to a home on Moreland Boulevard near American Avenue for a domestic violence incident.
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Police standoff on Moreland Boulevard near American Avenue, Waukesha
The caller said the suspect was threatening to kill her and choked her. No weapons were displayed during the incident, but it was reported the suspect did have access to a firearm.
The caller escaped the home but was quickly followed by the suspect. It was also reported that the suspect attempted to run the caller over with his vehicle.
The caller further said that the suspect tried to get her into the vehicle but was unsuccessful. When officers arrived at the home, the suspect was also back at the home, outside, trying to get into a vehicle to leave.
Police said the suspect did not listen to the officer’s commands to surrender and went inside the unoccupied home and barricaded himself.
Scene near Moreland and American
Standoff with police
Additional resources were requested, which included the Waukesha Police Tactical Unit, Deployable Technology Unit, Crisis Negotiators, and the Waukesha Police K9 unit.
After trying to deescalate the situation for about five hours, officers deployed CS gas (tear gas) into the home.
After all options were exhausted to get the suspect to exit the home peacefully, the K9 was sent in and apprehended the suspect in the basement.
The suspect was taken into custody without further incident and then taken to Waukesha Memorial Hospital for medical clearance.
The suspect is a 62-year-old man who is a resident of Waukesha. Police say he will eventually be transported to the Waukesha County Jail on several domestic-related charges.
The suspect being taken into custody
Injuries
According to police, the victim of the domestic violence incident sustained minor injuries.
During the arrest of the suspect, two officers were injured and taken to Waukesha Memorial Hospital for treatment.
One officer sustained a minor injury to his calf and the other officer sustained a minor injury to his knee.
Law enforcement at the scene
Déjà vu for neighbors
It unfolded at a home on Moreland Boulevard near American Avenue, roughly a half-mile north of St. Paul Avenue, and lasted nearly eight hours. Neighbors said the situation gave them Déjà vu.
"It's not the first situation that's happened," said Wende Schmidt.
During the standoff, a tactical vehicle broke down the front door and smashed a window as officers repeatedly called for the man to exit the residence. At one point, a drone was flown into the home through the hole where the front door used to be.
Neighbors said police were at the same home a few weeks ago, confronted the suspect and left. The latest ordeal has left them on edge, and they hope it brings issues they have witnessed for years to a close.
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"He does have a lot of guns in there," Schmidt said. "This is not the first time, and makes me feel a little unsafe."