4/11/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Tuesday
11 April 2023 News
PRELIMINARY HEARING SCHEDULED FOR DOUBLE MURDER SUSPECT
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for the 25-year-old Fremont man charged for the murders of his parents in their Town of Wolf River home. Last month Erik Metzig waived his time limit for a preliminary hearing. The hearing has been scheduled for next Monday in Winnebago County court. Metzig is charged with a pair of first-degree intentional homicide charges for the shooting deaths of 72-year-old David Metzig and 71-year-old Jan Metzig. They were found dead of gunshot wounds after one of their other sons and authorities conducted a welfare check on March 18th. Erik Metzig was living with his parents at the time of the shooting. He was arrested at a YMCA in Kimberly where he allegedly told a staff member he was upset about family and was looking for an apartment. Investigators also found a journal in his bedroom where entries said he wanted to eliminate his parents. (Winnebago County Jail photo).
OFFICERS KILLED IN BARRON COUNTY IDENTIFIED
The state’s Department of Justice or DOJ has released the names of those killed during an officer-involved shooting in Barron County last Saturday afternoon. Chetek Police Officer Emily Breidenbach and Cameron Police Officer Hunter Scheel conducted a traffic stop on 50-year-old Glenn Douglas Perry. He was reported to be displaying concerning behavior and was stopped on a warrant. Gunfire was exchanged. Breidenbach, age 32, and Scheel, age 23, died at the scene. Perry was taken to a hospital where he died. Breidenbach had 5 years of law enforcement experience and Scheel approximately 1 year. The DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the shooting. Investigative reports will be turned over to the Barron County District Attorney once the investigation is complete.
APARTMENT FIRE IN FDL
Fond du Lac firefighters quickly put out an apartment fire Sunday evening in the 300 block of Pine Tree Drive. When fire crews arrived, smoke was coming from a second-story balcony. Tenants were safely evacuated, and the fire was quickly put out. One apartment had water damage. No one was hurt and tenants were allowed to return to their apartments once smoke was cleared from the building. Fire officials say smoking materials that weren’t properly discarded caused the blaze. The time of the fire call was around 5 o’clock.
BRANDON MAN NEARLY RUNS OVER THREE DEPUTIES AND RESIDENT
While out with a resident believed to be in a state of crisis on Forest Avenue in the Town of Lamartine Sunday night, three Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputies were nearly struck by an impaired driver. Their emergency lights and headlights were activated while they were speaking to the resident when a vehicle began approaching them at a high rate of speed. The vehicle accelerated and drove left of center nearly striking the three deputies and the resident. They had to move to get out of the way. The vehicle narrowly missed the lead patrol squad but struck the push bumper of the second patrol squad with its driver side mirror. After striking the patrol squad, the vehicle did not stop. The vehicle accelerated and continued traveling eastbound on Forest Avenue. One of the deputies was able to catch up to the suspect vehicle stopping it on Esterbrook Road, just south of Highway 23. The driver was a 22-year-old Brandon man. He was arrested on suspicion of operating while impaired. He is being held in the County Jail on charges of 1st degree recklessly endangering safety.
BRIEF PURSUIT IN FDL AND WINNEBAGO COUNTIES
A 30-year-old Fond du Lac man led Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputies and the State Patrol on a three mile chase Sunday night from the Village of Van Dyne into Winnebago County. Sheriff’s officials say the man was sitting in a vehicle in a driveway at a home in the village acting aggressively. A deputy upon approaching the man and his vehicle observed drug paraphernalia and signs of impairment. When the deputy tried to remove the man from the vehicle the man took off north on Van Dyne Road. He continued onto County Road R into Winnebago County before coming to a stop. A squad car and the suspect’s vehicle were damaged during the pursuit. The man is facing OWI1st, fleeing, resisting, and drug paraphernalia possession charges. He was out on parole on theft and drug-related charges.
COUNTY SHERIFF POLICING AN OPTION FOR BRANDON AND FAIRWATER
With the retirement of Police Chief Gary Durkee the Villages of Brandon and Fairwater are weighing their options for the future of that combined police department. One of the options is having the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office provide the policing. Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt says the two villages inquired about it last December and he has done presentations for their village boards. Waldschmidt says it is up to the villages whether or not to accept the County’s proposed contract. He says if the villages approve the contract, the County’s Public Safety and Finance Committees will have to approve it and recommend it to the County Board for their approval. Waldschmidt says if the County takes over policing of the villages a deputy would be assigned to them for certain hours with flexibility for peak service hours and public events.
COVID TESTING ENDING AT FDL COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS TODAY
Today will be the final day for COVID-19 testing at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds. County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says they’ve been offering the testing at the Fairgrounds since October of 2021. Residents can still access a COVID-19 test by visiting a community testing location. Those locations include Walgreens in Fond du Lac and surrounding areas, Summit Clinical Labs in Oshkosh, purchasing self-tests through pharmacies, retail outlets, or online. Free self-tests can be ordered online through the Department of Health Services. You can also contact a health care provider or use health insurance, Medicaid or Medicare plans to cover the costs of purchasing additional test kits. Free tests are available at the City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac and county libraries while supplies last.
POP 101
The Vice-President of Membership and Resource Development for Envision Greater Fond du Lac says they are excited about the Public Office Preparation or POP 101 course they will be offering in June. The two day course will allow participants to explore basic competencies, including how to navigate the paperwork process, fundraising and spending, campaigning, and building a public persona. Joe Venhuizen says they will have some experienced local politicians on board to give advice and lend their expertise. POP 101 will be offered on Wednesday, June 21st and Wednesday, June 28th from 4 to 7 pm. Cost and registration information is on Envision’s website under their events page.
FDL PD SEEKING REACCREDITATION
A team of assessors from the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group will be arriving April 25th to examine all aspects of the Fond du Lac Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operation, and support services. Police Chief Aaron Goldstein says verification by the team that the police department meets the Board’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain re-accreditation-a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence. As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments to the assessment team, as they may do so by telephone. The public may call 920-322-3795 on April 26th between the hours of 10 am and 12 pm. If the police department is granted reaccreditation status it will be good for three years.
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