WAUKESHA, Wis. — Authorities gave the "all clear" after a tactical situation near a Waukesha hotel Friday night.
The incident began around 6 p.m. The Waukesha Sheriff's Department asked the public to avoid the area of E. Moreland Blvd. and E. Main Street in the City of Waukesha.
In an emergency alert sent to area residents, officials say there is an ongoing police incident in the area. Police and SWAT teams surrounded the Baymont Inn & Suites.
According to the Waukesha Police Department, police received a call that a man could be heard yelling profanities and was described as being out of control because someone was at his door.
The Waukesha County Sheriff's Department attempted to serve a commitment order on a suspect. The order directed law enforcement officers to have the suspect taken in for medical clearance then transported to a mental health facility based on his violation of outpatient conditions, Waukesha police said in a statement Friday night.
Police say the suspect made threats to a staff member at a group home. He told the staff member he had a gun and may visit that person. The suspect is a 44-year-old man.
Police said a review of his criminal history showed arrests for disorderly conduct, operating while intoxicated, and repeated sexual assaults of a child.
Waukesha police say while attempting to make contact with the suspect, he could be overheard making a threatening statement to the effect of "I'm gonna kill you." Officers then heard a gunshot and could hear an individual rapidly approaching the door.
According to a news release, police say they heard a second shot fired from inside the room. Based on the positioning, police say officers were in "imminent threat of death" and an officer fired his service weapon to defend himself and the other officers.
A perimeter was then established in the hallway and guests of the hotel were evacuated.
During this time, police attempted to de-escalate the situation by communicating with the suspect. The efforts were successful and the suspect surrendered peacefully. He was then taken into custody.
The all-clear was given shortly before 9 p.m.
Police say no officers, guests or the suspect was injured.
The officer who fired his weapon had nine years of experience.
TMJ4 News was on the scene and talked to a woman who says her husband is inside. He told her he heard a gunshot, followed by someone yelling "shots fired."
The woman's husband later made it out safely. He tells TMJ4 News he heard several loud bangs.
It appears police are now evacuating people from the building via ladder @tmj4 pic.twitter.com/7igmuNrNtQ
— Sarah McGrew (@sarahrosemcgrew) April 30, 2022
Police began evacuating people from the hotel with a truck ladder after 7:30 p.m.
