A Dodge County sheriff’s deputy was shot Sunday evening in the Town of Elba, Wisconsin, after deputies responded to River Run Dog Park and later found the suspect dead in his vehicle from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident triggered an Elba shelter in place order late Sunday night and closed Highway 73 for hours.
Deputies were called to the park just before 7 p.m. for reports of an intoxicated man causing a disturbance and threatening people. When officers tried to make contact, authorities said the suspect fired at law enforcement, hitting a deputy before running back to his vehicle. The injured deputy suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to UW Hospital, where he was released early Monday morning after treatment.
The suspect was found dead inside the vehicle when officials moved closer to it, and investigators said early findings showed he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A gun was recovered near him. Authorities said no law enforcement officers fired their guns during the confrontation, and they believe no other suspects were involved.
The shelter-in-place order was later lifted, and officials said there was no indication of a threat to the general public outside the affected area. Even so, the response stayed active through the night, with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Police Department, CCSO Emergency Response Team, Dodge County Emergency Response Team, LifeStar EMS, Beaver Dam Fire Department, Beaver Dam Paramedics and the Wisconsin State Patrol all assisting near Rec Road and Temkin Road. Highway 73 was closed between Highway 151 and the City of Columbus while crews worked the scene.
The case is being investigated as an officer-involved incident led by multiple agencies, and the sharper question now is what led the man to the dog park disturbance in the first place. Officials have not said yet.
