October 30, 2025 – Town of Polk, WI – On October 29, 2025, at approximately 11:39 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance involving a firearm at a residence in the Town of Polk.
The investigation revealed that a 63-year-old man allegedly returned home intoxicated and became involved in a violent altercation with his girlfriend.
During the incident, the man physically battered her until the woman’s two other family members attempted to intervene. The interviews revealed the man then retrieved a handgun and pointed it at all three victims. Witnesses also reported that he made a sound imitating the firing of the weapon while pointing it at one of the victims.
The man then fled the residence on foot prior to deputies’ arrival. A perimeter was established, and deputies located him attempting to conceal himself by crawling through a nearby swamp.
The man refused to comply with repeated commands to surrender.
A deputy utilized less-lethal impact shotgun rounds to gain compliance, which resulted in a significant wrist laceration to the man.
He was provided with immediate medical attention and transported to a medical facility where it was determined he had suffered a broken bone and would require surgery.
Deputies recovered the firearm and secured the scene without further incident.
Charges to be referred to the Washington County District
Attorney’s Office include:
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm
• Armed While Intoxicated
• Domestic Abuse–Disorderly Conduct
• Domestic Abuse–Battery
• Second-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety (three counts)
Sheriff Martin Schulteis emphasized the importance of having multiple tools available to safely resolve dangerous situations:
“As with all use of force incidents, this one will be carefully reviewed. Early reports show deputies had reason to believe the suspect was armed and was refusing to show his hands. Situations like this demonstrate why less-lethal options are essential to our mission of resolving threats safely while avoiding deadly force whenever possible.”