VILLAGE OF FREDONIA, Wis. — Authorities in Ozaukee County say they had to "scrape the bottom" of their tactical options to end a standoff in Fredonia that began Thursday night and lasted more than a day and a half.
In a news conference Monday morning, the Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office said a 37-year-old man barricaded himself on the second floor of a home during the entire standoff.
Law enforcement tried almost every tactic in the book before landing on one that worked, an unmanned, high pressure water hose.
"He got that direct pressure, and that ultimately led him to come out of the home," Sheriff Christy Knowles said.
Authorities contained and surrounded the area but took their time engaging the suspect because they wanted to avoid a violent end and any loss of life.
"That would have been the unintended consequence if we decided to rush in," Sheriff Knowles said.
From previous encounters with the man, authorities knew he had significant firepower in his home and harbored animosity toward law enforcement. During the standoff, the sheriff's office reported that the man was shouting threats, claiming he would kill anyone who entered the home.
Ultimately, the suspect surrendered to authorities Saturday morning and is now recovering in a hospital. Authorities plan to apply for several felony charges against the man, including recklessly endangering safety and Failure to comply with law enforcement orders.
Previous coverage: Fredonia tactical response ends peacefully after nearly 38 hours
Watch: Fredonia tactical response ends after use of fire hose and wall demolition
It took authorities more than a day and a half to get the suspect to exit the home peacefully, tying up life in a normally quiet Fredonia neighborhood. Local father Jesse Byers says he was unable to get to his home around the corner from the standoff.
"My son was [at the house]. My family was [there]. I wasn't," Byers said. "It was very frustrating not to be able to get to him or to hold him."
Despite those frustrations, Byers says he and other residents in the area say they are thankful for the efforts of law enforcement to keep them safe.
"[The police] took care of it to the best of their ability... "Something I would never want to go through again."
The house sustained heavy damage during the standoff, with windows busted and walls removed. The sheriff said that was necessary to ensure everyone's safety.
The house remains unsafe for authorities to enter, and everyone in the area should stay away until further notice.
This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
