Police respond to Walmart in De Pere, store evacuated

DE PERE, Wis. (WBAY) - A man is in custody following a standoff inside a Walmart in De Pere.

De Pere Police responded around 9:32 a.m. to the De Pere Walmart on Lawrence Drive to check on a man who police said was behaving erratically, making strange comments, and falling onto shelves. Police said the man appeared to be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.

Police said officers made contact with the man and saw that he had two large knives. He ran from officers towards the electronics department. Officers chased after him where police said he barricaded himself in a bathroom. Since police said he was armed and barricading himself, officer asked Brown County SWAT for help, along with a K-9 unit.

Police also asked for a rescue squad stage nearby. Brown County and Green Bay Police officers arrived to help, along with De Pere firefighters.

As a precaution, the store was shut down and evacuated. No one was hurt during this disturbance.

After a lengthy standoff, police said SWAT officers took the man into custody. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment. Criminal charges are yet to be determined depending on the investigation, which is currently underway.

Police didn’t release any other information.

The situation at Walmart is currently contained, but not resolved. There is no ongoing danger to the public at this time. Store employees are safe and have been evacuated.
— De Pere Police Department (@DePerePD) March 20, 2023

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