A person accused of firing a gun at the end of a rideshare trip in Hobart was taken into custody in Howard Tuesday morning after an overnight search that stretched across two Brown County communities. Police say the shot fired Monday afternoon was not aimed at anyone, and no injuries were reported, but the hunt for the person responsible ended with a tense standoff near an industrial chemical plant.
The Hobart-Lawrence Police Department was dispatched to the 4000 block of Stella Court around 4:10 p.m. Monday for a weapons complaint, according to WLUK. A victim told officers that someone had discharged a firearm as a rideshare trip was wrapping up. The outlet reports the discharge was not directed at anyone, and the call resulted in no reported injuries.
Hours later, the case took a dramatic turn. Around 2:37 a.m. Tuesday, a Brown County Sheriff's Office deputy spotted an individual near Lineville Road and Velp Avenue who was believed to be connected to the earlier Hobart incident, the station's report states. The individual reportedly had an active warrant through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and was already known to law enforcement.
Search Leads to Industrial Park Near Howard-Suamico Schools
The encounter touched off a police presence near Lineville Road, Velp Avenue, and Cornell Road in Howard, close to an industrial park in the area. During the search, the individual was seen entering the perimeter of the Nouryon Expancel facility, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Working with plant management, officers checked to make sure the suspect had not entered any of the buildings.
The Howard-Suamico School District was made aware of the situation given its proximity to the search area, and classes resumed normally despite the police activity nearby, per the earlier report. Around 9 a.m. Tuesday, the individual was taken into custody in Howard, bringing the overnight search to a close. Law enforcement recovered a firearm during the investigation, though further details on the weapon were not released.
Charges Expected to Go to Brown County District Attorney
The Hobart-Lawrence Police Department said it anticipates referring several charges to the Brown County District Attorney's Office, the Press-Gazette notes. Those charges include possession of a firearm by a felon, second-degree recklessly endangering safety, criminal damage to property, and resisting or obstructing an officer. It remains unclear whether any charges have formally been filed.
Hobart-Lawrence police continue to investigate the original Hobart incident, the department said. No additional details about the suspect's identity or the specific rideshare service involved in the initial complaint have been released.
