I sitting here getting ready for work after 2 nights off and I come across this story:
Yes, even in my little neck of the woods. On any call, at any time, something like this could happen.
I know her. She is a friend and co-worker. Now she will probably have at least a week off and countless hours of therapy simpley because she was doing her job.
And think about this: It could have been me.
WALWORTH TOWNSHIP-A Walworth man is accused of grabbing the gun of a Walworth County deputy, holding her hostage and exchanging gunfire with police at a home south of Delavan Lake on Wednesday night.
The female deputy had responded to W6553 North Walworth Road about 11:34 p.m. for a domestic dispute.
The sheriff's department refused to release the deputy's name because the case remains under investigation.
When the deputy approached Robbie S. Dickerson, 26, in the front yard, she saw that he had a knife in his waistband, according to the sheriff's department.
The deputy attempted to disarm Dickerson, who appeared intoxicated, but he knocked her to the ground and took away her revolver.
When a second deputy and a village of Walworth police officer arrived, they saw Dickerson pointing the female deputy's revolver at her head. Dickerson fired one shot into the air and shot twice at arriving officers.
The village officer returned fire but missed, according to the sheriff's department.
Dickerson then forced the female deputy into the house, and a standoff ensued.
Dickerson and the deputy were the only two people in that unit of the multi-family home. The wife involved in the earlier domestic dispute was taken to a safe location when the second deputy arrived. Sheriff's officials believe Dickerson and his wife lived at the Walworth Road home.
Deputies and police officers from throughout the area converged on the scene, and the Walworth County SWAT team was dispatched.
Inside, Dickerson fired another round into the ceiling. Officers outside didn't know if the deputy had been shot, Sheriff David Graves said.
"I imagine they probably thought it was at her," Graves said.
The bullet went into an upstairs apartment, occupied by a family of three, but didn't strike anyone. Dickerson then appeared at a window holding the female at gunpoint. He yelled at the officers outside to shoot him, according to the sheriff's department.
The sheriff's department would not release other details about what happened inside the home.
The female deputy escaped when Dickerson momentarily let down his guard, Graves said.
"She found her opportunity, and she took it. It was quick thinking," Graves said. "She thought well on her feet. As soon as he showed a weak moment, she managed to get away from him."
She suffered only minor cuts and bruises, Graves said. After she was free, the deputy briefed other officers about the situation.
Dickerson remained inside with the gun for 15 to 20 minutes before surrendering, Graves said.
Police negotiated with him through the windows until he gave up. He was taken into custody at 12:31 a.m.
Investigators remained at the scene this morning, Graves said.
Dickerson is in custody at the Walworth County Jail facing at least two charges of attempted first-degree intentional homicide. He is scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing at 1 p.m. Friday.
Dickerson has no adult criminal record but has several traffic violations, according to online court records.
Graves said Dickerson has juvenile violations; details could not be released.
The sheriff's department and other county police have been involved in hostage situations before but never with a fellow officer as the hostage, Graves said.
"Everybody maintained their poise," Graves said. "They didn't shoot inadvertently. They just did a really good job in handling a tense situation."
Officers from Walworth, Darien, town of Delavan, city of Delavan, Williams Bay, Linn, town of Geneva, Fontana and the Wisconsin State Patrol helped during the standoff.
The incident is being investigated by the sheriff's department, the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation and the Wisconsin State Patrol. The outside agencies are helping because a sheriff's deputy was directly involved, Graves said.
The female deputy had responded to W6553 North Walworth Road about 11:34 p.m. for a domestic dispute.
The sheriff's department refused to release the deputy's name because the case remains under investigation.
When the deputy approached Robbie S. Dickerson, 26, in the front yard, she saw that he had a knife in his waistband, according to the sheriff's department.
The deputy attempted to disarm Dickerson, who appeared intoxicated, but he knocked her to the ground and took away her revolver.
When a second deputy and a village of Walworth police officer arrived, they saw Dickerson pointing the female deputy's revolver at her head. Dickerson fired one shot into the air and shot twice at arriving officers.
The village officer returned fire but missed, according to the sheriff's department.
Dickerson then forced the female deputy into the house, and a standoff ensued.
Dickerson and the deputy were the only two people in that unit of the multi-family home. The wife involved in the earlier domestic dispute was taken to a safe location when the second deputy arrived. Sheriff's officials believe Dickerson and his wife lived at the Walworth Road home.
Deputies and police officers from throughout the area converged on the scene, and the Walworth County SWAT team was dispatched.
Inside, Dickerson fired another round into the ceiling. Officers outside didn't know if the deputy had been shot, Sheriff David Graves said.
"I imagine they probably thought it was at her," Graves said.
The bullet went into an upstairs apartment, occupied by a family of three, but didn't strike anyone. Dickerson then appeared at a window holding the female at gunpoint. He yelled at the officers outside to shoot him, according to the sheriff's department.
The sheriff's department would not release other details about what happened inside the home.
The female deputy escaped when Dickerson momentarily let down his guard, Graves said.
"She found her opportunity, and she took it. It was quick thinking," Graves said. "She thought well on her feet. As soon as he showed a weak moment, she managed to get away from him."
She suffered only minor cuts and bruises, Graves said. After she was free, the deputy briefed other officers about the situation.
Dickerson remained inside with the gun for 15 to 20 minutes before surrendering, Graves said.
Police negotiated with him through the windows until he gave up. He was taken into custody at 12:31 a.m.
Investigators remained at the scene this morning, Graves said.
Dickerson is in custody at the Walworth County Jail facing at least two charges of attempted first-degree intentional homicide. He is scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing at 1 p.m. Friday.
Dickerson has no adult criminal record but has several traffic violations, according to online court records.
Graves said Dickerson has juvenile violations; details could not be released.
The sheriff's department and other county police have been involved in hostage situations before but never with a fellow officer as the hostage, Graves said.
"Everybody maintained their poise," Graves said. "They didn't shoot inadvertently. They just did a really good job in handling a tense situation."
Officers from Walworth, Darien, town of Delavan, city of Delavan, Williams Bay, Linn, town of Geneva, Fontana and the Wisconsin State Patrol helped during the standoff.
The incident is being investigated by the sheriff's department, the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation and the Wisconsin State Patrol. The outside agencies are helping because a sheriff's deputy was directly involved, Graves said.
Yes, even in my little neck of the woods. On any call, at any time, something like this could happen.
I know her. She is a friend and co-worker. Now she will probably have at least a week off and countless hours of therapy simpley because she was doing her job.
And think about this: It could have been me.
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