State DCI investigating death in New London
By John Faucher
New London Police Chief Jeffrey Schlueter confirmed that a 31-year-old white man was killed by police shortly before noon Friday, Aug. 19.
Schlueter said in a press release that two New London officers were on patrol near the intersection of Algoma and Wallace streets when they saw a man they recognized with an active arrest warrant.
According to police, when the officers confronted the man, he pulled out a weapon. The officers drew their duty weapons, shot and killed him.
Agents with the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigations are investigating the shooting.
Schlueter said the officers will not be named at this time. Neither officer was injured.
The name of the deceased is not being released at this time, pending notification of the next of kin.
“We ask the public to be patient while DCI does a complete investigation,” Schlueter said.
While authorities remain at the scene Friday afternoon, Schlueter noted that the public is not in any known danger.
Neighbors were shocked when they heard the shooting.
Sandra Drath, who lives one block down the street from the incident said, “I heard one or two shots, then there was quite a few.”
Her sister Rhonda Schinke said she also heard the shots.
“I thought it was a fireworks, it was a lot,” Schinke said.
Angie Oberthaler, who lives at 1003 Algoma Street, directly next door to where the incident occurred, said she was home but was sleeping at the time.
“The neighbor kids came in the house and woke me up. I came outside and thought, oh my God, it’s my yard. I’ve lived here since December and never thought I’d see something like this,” Oberthaler said.
“I saw the bike and thought please tell me this was not a kid. I had to know,” Oberthaler said. “The officer couldn’t’ tell me much, but said it was an adult, to ease my mind.”
Oberthaler said this was someone just passing through and she still felt safe in her own home.
“If I didn’t feel safe I wouldn’t be sitting out here right now. I love this neighborhood, all of my neighbors are great,” Oberthaler said.
Jennifer Dorsey agreed. “This is not a bad neighborhood. It’s got its ups and downs just like everywhere else,” she said.
“I’m sorry, but people have to understand anytime you point a gun at a police officer, you’ve got it coming, period,” she said.
Robert Cloud contributed to the article.