Two people are in custody in Waukesha County after an officer involved shooting on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, three Waukesha County Sheriff's Department deputies have been placed on administrative duty. The department is not yet releasing names of those involved. But the shooting occurred after a standoff, when a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) employee pursued stolen vehicle.
According to the Waukesha Sheriff’s Department, the alleged stolen vehicle pursuit by the DNR officer began in the town of Eagle. The pursuit ended after members of assisting departments deployed tire deflation devices. The vehicle came to a stop on northbound state Highway 67 on the Interstate 94 overpass in Summit.
The sheriff's department says a man in the vehicle allegedly pointed a gun out the window and the department fired shots in response. Sheriff Eric Severson says that’s when the standoff began.
“A male from within the vehicle called Waukesha County Communication Center and demanded to speak to a negotiator. The male barricaded himself within the vehicle and alleged that he was holding a female hostage. The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Tactical enforcement unit responded,” Severson says.
Severson says after five hours of negotiations deputies used tactical gas to get the people out of the vehicle.
“The male fled with the female at gunpoint. As the male fled the vehicle with the gun pointed at the female two tactical officers fired at the male striking him multiple times,” Severson says.
The woman continued running onto I-94. During a struggle with officers, deputies say she stabbed a Waukesha County K-9 officer. The man who was shot is in critical condition. The woman was taken to the hospital and remains in stable condition. The dog was treated and released.
The freeway and state Highway 67 were closed for hours during and after the standoff. Sheriff Severson apologized Wednesday to anyone inconvenienced by the shutdown, but said it was necessary.
“We needed to isolate the area and make sure that people did not enter an area that was dangerous. And so that necessitated the need for us to shut down pretty busy roadways,” Severson says.
Two investigations into the matter are underway, one internal. The sheriff has asked the Department of Justice to investigate, as well. Per policy, the three officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative duty.
