Menomonie Police provide update on Jan. 21 home invasion, officer-involved shooting

MENOMONIE, Wis. (WEAU) - Menomonie Police provided a video update on the Department’s investigation into a break-in and auto theft on Jan. 21 that led to officers and a deputy from the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office shooting and killing the suspect.

Menomonie Police Chief Eric Atkinson said in a video post Monday morning that the suspect allegedly threatened to kill a person in their home and fired a shot through a barricaded door before stealing the homeowner’s vehicle on Jan. 21 in the City of Menomonie.

Atkinson detailed what the victim of the break-in told investigators, that an intruder was looking for a person that the victim didn’t know and then came back later threatening to kill them. According to the video update, the victim barricaded themselves in a bedroom and called 911 while the suspect tried breaking down the door. After firing a shot, the suspect took the victim’s identification and vehicle keys and again threatened to kill the victim. They then left the residence in the victim’s vehicle. Atkinson said that the suspect and victim did not know each other.

Chief Atkinson said that the vehicle was stopped and the suspect was shot and killed by officers from the Menomonie Police Department and a sheriff’s deputy. The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, while the Police Department is continuing to investigate the break-in and stolen vehicle. Four officers from the Menomonie Police Department were placed on leave.

Atkinson urged community members to be mindful of what they say about the situation as many people were affected by the incident, and to honor the privacy of the victim.

In a release following the break-in and officer-involved shooting, the Menomonie Police Department said its officers, the UW-Stout Police Department and Dunn County Sheriff’s Office received a report of at a man who had broken into an apartment, threatened the homeowner, and stolen the homeowner’s vehicle at 8:58 p.m. Jan. 21 in Menomonie.

The report was of an older white man breaking into an apartment, threatening the homeowner and shooting a gun. The suspect then stole the homeowner’s vehicle and was stopped by law enforcement in the area of Bongey Drive and Terrill Road on Menomonie’s southwest side. During the traffic stop, the suspect was shot by law enforcement and died at the scene. No members of law enforcement were hurt during the traffic stop. Law enforcement provided first aid to the suspect before he died at the scene.

Menomonie Police reported that there was an increased law enforcement presence near the area of Bongey Drive and Terrill Road in a Facebook post at 11:41 p.m. Jan. 21, or about three hours after the report was called in. Police said that there was no active threat to the community. The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office shared the same message at 11:50 p.m. Jan. 21.

One deputy from the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and four officers from the Menomonie Police Department were placed on administrative leave per department policies. The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, while the Menomonie Police Department is leading the investigation into the home invasion, according to a release from the Department of Justice.

Menomonie Police said that more details about the incident will be released as their investigation progresses. The Police Department said in a release that they will fully cooperate with the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. The DOJ said that all involved law enforcement are fully cooperating with the investigation, which is being assisted by the DOJ DCI Crime Response Specialist and Wisconsin State Patrol. Investigative reports will be given to the Dunn County District Attorney when the investigation is completed.

Also assisting were the Menomonie Fire Department and Colfax Police Department.

correction: A previous version of this article indicated the break-in and shooting happened on Jan. 23, but the incidents took place on Jan. 21.

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