AJM
Member
Am I just too sensitive, or does this headline seem to imply to the casual reader that there is a trigger-happy sheriff's deputy loose in western Wisconsin? What disappointed me is that the headline for this article was on the front page of the "Local" section of the paper. The explanation that the previous shooting actually took place years before was in the continuation section of the article on page 3.
I think that this is just one of the more subtle ways that the anti-gun agenda is promoted. Why does a justified shooting that took place years ago have any bearing whatsoever on a shooting that took place this weekend? And why does it have to be defended all over again?
http://www.twincities.com/ci_8363807
Hammond, Wis. / Deputy's previous shooting defended
Sheriff says force needed then and in Saturday's death
By Brady Gervais
[email protected]
Article Last Updated: 02/26/2008 12:32:54 AM CST
One of the St. Croix County sheriff's deputies who shot Jacob Lee Sperl late Saturday had previously been put on administrative leave for discharging a firearm, the St. Croix County sheriff's office said Monday.
The sheriff's office has not released the names of the two deputies involved in this past weekend's fatal shooting. Both have been put on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure in such cases. St. Croix County Sheriff Dennis Hillstead said one deputy was in field training and the other was a veteran put on leave a few years ago after he was involved in a shooting.
In that case, the deputy fired a gun after a suspect had invaded a home, stolen a vehicle and taken a hostage at gunpoint before releasing the person, stealing another vehicle and attempting to run over the deputy, Hillstead said. No one was injured in that case, and the shooting was justified, Hillstead said.
On Saturday, the deputies were called to a home at 1848 60th Ave. in Hammond, Wis., shortly after 11 p.m. A female relative of Sperl told 911 operators the 23-year-old had made suicidal threats and was outside armed with a shotgun.
The deputies arrived about 15 minutes after receiving the call and parked on a road nearby before approaching the house, Hillstead said. As the deputies walked across the yard, two of Sperl's friends concerned for his safety pulled into the driveway.
The friends walked up to Sperl near his garage and began talking to him. As the deputies approached, Sperl moved away and picked up a shotgun from the ground, Hillstead said.
With handguns drawn, the deputies yelled at Sperl three times to drop the shotgun, but he raised the gun and pointed it at a deputy, Hillstead said. Between the two deputies, 10 shots were fired, he said.
The incident lasted less than 10 minutes, he said. Sperl died at the scene. Investigators said his gun was loaded, and he had another 19 rounds on him.
It's unclear how many times Sperl was hit. The sheriff's office is waiting for a preliminary autopsy report.
Investigators are talking to witnesses and those who communicated with Sperl to see whether the deputies responded appropriately to the situation.
"Based on initial review, they acted in accordance with the department's policies and procedures," Hillstead said.
Nick Ferraro contributed to this report.
I think that this is just one of the more subtle ways that the anti-gun agenda is promoted. Why does a justified shooting that took place years ago have any bearing whatsoever on a shooting that took place this weekend? And why does it have to be defended all over again?
http://www.twincities.com/ci_8363807
Hammond, Wis. / Deputy's previous shooting defended
Sheriff says force needed then and in Saturday's death
By Brady Gervais
[email protected]
Article Last Updated: 02/26/2008 12:32:54 AM CST
One of the St. Croix County sheriff's deputies who shot Jacob Lee Sperl late Saturday had previously been put on administrative leave for discharging a firearm, the St. Croix County sheriff's office said Monday.
The sheriff's office has not released the names of the two deputies involved in this past weekend's fatal shooting. Both have been put on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure in such cases. St. Croix County Sheriff Dennis Hillstead said one deputy was in field training and the other was a veteran put on leave a few years ago after he was involved in a shooting.
In that case, the deputy fired a gun after a suspect had invaded a home, stolen a vehicle and taken a hostage at gunpoint before releasing the person, stealing another vehicle and attempting to run over the deputy, Hillstead said. No one was injured in that case, and the shooting was justified, Hillstead said.
On Saturday, the deputies were called to a home at 1848 60th Ave. in Hammond, Wis., shortly after 11 p.m. A female relative of Sperl told 911 operators the 23-year-old had made suicidal threats and was outside armed with a shotgun.
The deputies arrived about 15 minutes after receiving the call and parked on a road nearby before approaching the house, Hillstead said. As the deputies walked across the yard, two of Sperl's friends concerned for his safety pulled into the driveway.
The friends walked up to Sperl near his garage and began talking to him. As the deputies approached, Sperl moved away and picked up a shotgun from the ground, Hillstead said.
With handguns drawn, the deputies yelled at Sperl three times to drop the shotgun, but he raised the gun and pointed it at a deputy, Hillstead said. Between the two deputies, 10 shots were fired, he said.
The incident lasted less than 10 minutes, he said. Sperl died at the scene. Investigators said his gun was loaded, and he had another 19 rounds on him.
It's unclear how many times Sperl was hit. The sheriff's office is waiting for a preliminary autopsy report.
Investigators are talking to witnesses and those who communicated with Sperl to see whether the deputies responded appropriately to the situation.
"Based on initial review, they acted in accordance with the department's policies and procedures," Hillstead said.
Nick Ferraro contributed to this report.
