Couple barricade themselves in barn
By Scott Bellile
A standoff in a barn ended with three arrests and no injuries in the town of Ellington east of Hortonville Wednesday, Sept. 2.
Outagamie County sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant for missing property at a home on State Highway 76 next to Cross County Lane around 10 a.m. Wednesday, Lt. Terry Hammen said. He said he wasn’t sure what the missing property was but it may have been auto equipment.
One adult male was taken into custody upon the deputies’ arrival. Another adult male and an adult female barricaded themselves inside a barn.
The Brown-Outagamie County Bomb Squad and SWAT also responded to the scene. Hammen said the pair’s behavior was suspicious and they didn’t obey orders. A robot was deployed to search for explosives inside the barn but none were found.
Both individuals were arrested during the late afternoon. Hammen said weapons were not seized from the two individuals. The trio was transported to jail in Outagamie County.
Neighbor Bill Bastar was going to check his mail around late morning when he noticed many vehicles parked outside. He said he didn’t know the faces or the names of the people who lived in the house where the action took place, but he was relieved the standoff ended well.
Bastar said witnessing a standoff across the street was surprising because his neighborhood has been peaceful in the 24 years he has lived there. But he also wasn’t surprised because some people simply snap, he said.
“People are funny,” Bastar said. “It can happen to anybody.”
Vehicles were lined up along the highway and on a neighbor’s property. TV crews camped on his property.
“I’m retired, so I enjoy the excitement,” Bastar said.
He said he had one problem with the situation.
“Now my garbage didn’t get picked up because of this, and now I’m gonna have a stinky corner over here,” Bastar said with a laugh.