04/10/2026
On March 24th, 2026, the Langlade County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team was recognized as combined SWAT Teams of the Year by the Wisconsin Association of SWAT Personnel. The special response team is a conjoined team made up of members from the Antigo Police Department and the Langlade County Sheriff’s Office. Also recognized were Oneida, Marathon, and Lincoln County tactical teams for their assistance with the incident.
On June 3rd, 2023, at approximately 8:46 PM, city officers were dispatched to a 911 call for a domestic violence incident. A female party was able to get out of the residence and call for help after being assaulted by a 41-year-old male. The male had an extensive violent history and after realizing the female had left, took two small children hostage and barricaded himself inside the residence. The officers on scene soon realized the severity of the call after they attempted to make contact with the male and he made threats to shoot them with a high-powered rifle. The Langlade County Special Response Team was requested to respond to the scene.
Crisis Negotiators were also requested and quickly established contact with the male. The male was intoxicated and very volatile, refusing to release the children and threatened to blow the house up. The suspect made multiple repeated threats to harm all involved.
An additional request was made to Marathon, Oneida, and Lincoln Counties to respond with their Special Response Team and Negotiators. The situation lasted well through the night and into the next day. Negotiations lasted several hours until the subjects phone died. A throw phone was delivered by the tactical teams and communications were briefly reestablished. After the male became enraged and started a countdown to harm the children and blow up the house, tactical teams made entry and successfully rescued the two children from the home.
The male retreated further into the house and barricaded himself in a different part of the residence. Tactical teams continued their efforts to take the male into custody and at approximately 7:21 AM the following morning, the male was taken into custody.
The male was convicted on several severe charges and was sentenced to 9 years initial confinement in the Wisconsin State Prison System.
All four teams combined their training and experience and worked together to bring the situation to a peaceful ending. Thank you to everyone that was involved with this incredibly stressful incident. The dedication, professionalism and commitment shown during this incident was outstanding.
Thank you to the other counties that responded to assist us during this call. We appreciate the great working relationships with each of you.
