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Police take armed man into custody

An intoxicated, suicidal man who was brandishing a 9mm handgun and screaming obscenities was taken into custody at around 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, near downtown Hortonville.

Hortonville Police Chief Michael Sullivan said the disturbance began at about 6:50 p.m. near the Fire Hall.

“We began investigating reports of a suicidal man who had been drinking and was upset over what appears to be a family-related issue,” said Sullivan. “The man had a loaded 9mm gun and was driving around town.”

Sullivan said the man was later identified as 45-year-old Floyd M. Gardner.

“Outagamie County Sheriff’s Department officers found him behind a local bank, and he took off when they showed up. The officers were finally able to pull him over, and he was screaming obscenities, putting the gun to his head, and telling the officers to shoot him,” continued Sullivan.

“The officers ended up shooting him with beanbag rounds. The man then hopped back in his truck and took off,” said Sullivan. “Officers were able to pull him over again about a block away, and the man finally surrendered.”

Sullivan said officers collected evidence, took the man to a local hospital, and are now working on a follow-up investigation.

“There were no injuries, except to the suicidal man who was shot with the beanbag rounds,” Sullivan said. “It all happened pretty quickly. We set up perimeters and asked residents to stay in their homes and keep their doors locked.

The Hortonville Police Department was assisted by the Wisconsin State Patrol, Outagamie County Sheriff’s Department, and Shiocton Police Department.

“We’re all working together on this case,” said Sullivan. “We will be forming preliminary charges this morning (Thursday, Jan. 3). Those charges will likely include fleeing, obstructing, disorderly conduct; reckless use of deadly weapon, and possibly intoxication.”

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