Butler tactical situation; 1 in custody, made violent threats

BUTLER, Wis. - A man is in custody after a five-hour standoff in Butler on Sunday night, Sept. 14, during which police say he threatened to kill others, including law enforcement officers.

What we know:

Officers were called just before 5 p.m. to an apartment near 124th and Derby after a family member reported the man was making violent threats toward others and himself.

At first glance, neighbors said the area appeared quiet, but the law enforcement presence was impossible to miss.

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"I don’t think we’ve ever seen that in my life, especially in Butler," said resident Andrew Emrich. "I just saw all the people they had around. Police officers, all the vans, all the different units."

Investigators say the man refused to come out of the apartment and threatened officers if they responded. Police were also warned he might have machetes inside.

Dig deeper:

The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office activated its Tactical Enforcement Unit, which took positions around the building, including on nearby rooftops.

"Maybe a little tense because you never knew if something was going to happen or when something was going to happen," Emrich said.

Just before 10 p.m., negotiators made contact with the man. Police say he eventually surrendered without weapons and was taken into custody.

The suspect was transported to the Waukesha County Jail.

Local perspective:

Business owners nearby said they were glad to see the police response.

"If they thought our roof was a vantage point for them, I’m happy they made our place and our city safe because of that," said Nathan Anderson of Butler.

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What's next:

The Butler Police Department said charges are being referred to the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office.