A deputy tased a man who reportedly charged him with clenched fists.
Tyler J. Armstrong, 30, Wisconsin Rapids, was charged in Waupaca County Circuit Court with threatening an officer, resisting an officer and disorderly conduct.
Shortly before 1 a.m. Oct. 8, Waupaca County Deputy Chad Repinski was dispatched to the Little Norway Bar in Scandinavia. The bartender had reported that a suspicious man was hiding behind the tavern.
Repinski arrived and spoke with two patrons and the bartender, who were standing outside the bar. They told the deputy the man had left and was walking north down Main Street.
Repinski drove until he found the man, later identified as Armstrong, a short distance away, walking on the sidewalk. The deputy exited his squad car and told Armstrong to keep his hands in the open.
According to the criminal complaint, Repinski was standing on the front driver’s side of his squad car when Armstrong stepped off the curb, walked toward the deputy, raised both his hands, then lunged toward him.
“I took a step back and ordered him to stop,” Repinski reported. “I put my hands up in a guarded position and said stop again.”
Armstrong stopped, then reportedly said, “Someone told me the police were going to shoot me.”
Repinski assured Armstrong he was not going to shoot him.
“I asked him what he was doing here. He stated he was walking around doing his boss’s job,” Repinski reported.
Armstrong started to put his right hand in his pocket and Repinski ordered him to place his hands on the hood of the squad car,
The complaint says that Armstrong then asked, “Are you going to tase me?” He then moved toward Repinski and said, “Tase me, bro’”
Repinski again assured Armstrong he was not there to harm him. The deputy questioned Armstrong about his presence in Scandinavia. Armstrong said he had no money and his car had broken down.
Armstrong’s car was later found in the Scandinavia fire station’s parking lot.
As Repinski was on the radio with dispatch, Armstrong reportedly charged him with clenched fists. Repinski stepped back and drew his electric stun gun.
“I was backpedaling at my maximum speed and he was running straight toward me with his arms up,” Repinski reported. “We went back approximately one city block before I discharged my Taser.”
Repinski fired his stun gun several times before Armstrong went down to the ground.
“I asked him if he was hurt and he stated, ‘Pride, a little bit.’ I asked him physically, and he stated no. He stated it was fun though.”
Sgt. Kevin Studzinski arrived at the scene to assist and questioned Armstrong about what had happened.
When Studzinski asked Armstrong if he had any mental health issues, Armstrong responded, “Define mental health issues,” the complaint says. He also described his boss as “practically a demon.”
According to the criminal complaint, Armstrong told deputies he lost his job and had been evicted from his apartment. He used his remaining cash to buy gas for his car and started driving. He said he did not know he was in the village of Scandinavia until someone told him.
Armstrong currently remains in custody on a $2,500 cash bond.