Charges have been filed against a 21-year-old man who was shot and wounded on Sept. 30 by a Washburn County deputy after allegedly fleeing in a car from Minong into Sawyer County.
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Tyler M. Ladwig, of Exeland, Wis., allegedly exited his car on Highway 77 five miles northwest of Hayward and reached for a gun before he was shot and wounded by Deputy Jordan Price.
Price, who was standing 10 to 15 feet behind Ladwig's sedan, stated that he fired in self-defense, believing that Ladwig intended to shoot him. After initially being placed on leave, he has since returned to work, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Ladwig was transported to Hayward Area Memorial Hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds to a shoulder and leg.
He was charged Nov. 3 in Sawyer County Circuit Court with four felony charges: first degree recklessly endangering safety, threatening an officer, fleeing an officer and violating terms of his bond on an earlier charge of possessing methamphetamine.
Court documents were served on Ladwig, and he is due in court Tuesday for an initial appearance. No bond has been set and he was not listed as an inmate in the Sawyer County Jail.
The investigation into the officer's actions in the shooting was conducted by the state Department of Criminal Investigation; state law requires that an outside agency investigate all officer-involved shootings.
State officials said the reports on the case were delivered to the Sawyer County District Attorney's Office and the Washburn County Sheriff's Office last month, for a decision on whether charges would be filed against the officer. Messages left with those two offices on Wednesday were not returned.
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In the case against Ladwig, according to the charges:
Price was on patrol on Highway 77 near Hall Road in Washburn County when his radar clocked an eastbound vehicle traveling 64 mph in a 55 mph zone. The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, which continued to travel at high speed.
The driver went past the junction of Highway M and into Sawyer County, pursued by the deputy, who said he was "having difficulties in closing the distance with the vehicle" while traveling at 113 mph.
The deputy requested additional patrols and was about to terminate the pursuit when the suspect abruptly stopped, turned around, proceeded westbound for a half mile and stopped on the shoulder near Harper Road.
The deputy stopped his squad car a few car lengths from the suspect vehicle and exited the squad with his handgun drawn. The driver and passenger exited their vehicle.
The passenger, a 28-year-old Hayward woman, walked down into the ditch. She "seemed oddly calm but weird," the deputy said. He felt she was not a threat to him.
Price said Ladwig was outside the driver's door facing him, with his left arm pointed down toward the driver's seat. The deputy believed that Ladwig had something in his hand at that time.
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The deputy walked to within 10 to 15 feet of the rear bumper and ordered Ladwig to show his hands. Ladwig "was yelling like a psycho," he told the DCI investigator. "I thought he was either mentally unstable or high on narcotics."
Price said the suspect continued to display odd behavior and told him, "I cannot go to jail." The deputy told him to calm down and relax, that "it's just a citation."
The deputy felt the situation was escalating and radioed for backup. The deputy continued to yell at Ladwig to take his hand out of the car and walk back toward him. Ladwig "dropped to his knees, covering his head, and began crying hysterically, saying 'I can't, I can't.'"
Ladwig stood up and reached back into the vehicle while facing the deputy. The woman told Ladwig, "Tyler, just drop it." Price said he believed she was referring to a weapon and informed the dispatcher.
According to the charges, Ladwig allegedly said, "I just can't go back to jail; just shoot me." The deputy ordered him to drop the weapon. Ladwig then allegedly said, "It's a gun, it's a gun; I just want to throw it out." Price told him multiple times, "Tyler, do not touch the gun or I will shoot you."
Price said Ladwig quickly pulled the weapon from the driver's seat of the vehicle with his left hand. The deputy said he observed the suspect holding the gun by the grip.
Price said he believed the suspect intended to shoot him. The deputy fired five or six shots at Ladwig, who was hit and fell back into his car.
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The deputy worked his way back toward his squad car and reported the shooting to dispatch, requesting an ambulance.
The deputy ordered Ladwig to exit the vehicle. Ladwig, screaming in pain, said he could not move his legs. Other officers arrived on the scene and ordered Ladwig to get out of his vehicle and get on the ground.
He began to comply and Price handcuffed him as other officers provided cover. A gun on the ground was recovered near the driver's side door.
Police officers began treating Ladwig at the scene and an ambulance transported him to Hayward Area Memorial Hospital.
