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One-Time Tripoli Clown, 76, Arrested After Shooting at Police

Two people injured in incident involving man who violated restraining order filed against him when he made contact with his ex-wife in Waukesha.

 

The quick actions of Waukesha police officers prevented a tragedy Tuesday afternoon after a 76-year-old man shot at them while they were interviewing his ex-wife about a domestic violence incident at her home.

“The suspect pointed a long gun at the officers and shot at the officers,” said Police Chief Russell Jack. “The officers then returned fire. The officers disengaged from the residence with the victim.”

The man was arrested without incident at 5:16 p.m. and no officers were shot, according to Jack. Patch is not naming the man until he has been charged. He was the director of clowns for the Tripoli Shrine Center in 2008, according to the group's website.

“One officer suffered a minor injury while securing the victim,” Jack said. “The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is being treated at Waukesha Memorial Hospital. The suspect was not injured during this investigation.”

The police department was to called the residence in the 1800 block of Racine Avenue at 4:13 p.m. for the domestic violence incident. The two are divorced and the woman had a restraining order filed against the man. Court records show the man lives in Sussex.

"This is a residence with a history of domestic related incidents," Jack said.

The man was in court on Tuesday, where he was found in contempt of court in his divorce case for not signing a tax refund document. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail or he could sign the tax refund and pay $130 within 30 days.

The man was also ordered to pay his ex-wife, who was to keep the tax refund, $350 within 30 days.

A restraining order with a weapon prohibition against the man was granted in 2010 to last through 2014, although court records do not indicate if it was the man’s ex-wife who filed the restraining order.

In addition to the FBI, Waukesha Police Department and the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, police departments from Brookfield, the Town of Brookfield, Butler, Oconomowoc, New Berlin and the Wisconsin State Patrol responded to the scene.

A spokeswoman for Waukesha Memorial Hospital told Patch the hospital was treating two female patients for minor injuries. Both are in good condition, the spokeswoman said.

The Waukesha Police Department's tactical team arrived on the scene at about 5 p.m. The Sheriff's Department also set up a command post. A chaplain who works with the police department also arrived on the scene at about 5:15 p.m.

Brookfield Shooting Not Forgotten

The domestic violence incident occurred two days after Radcliffe Haughton shot and killed three women at a Brookfield spa. Haughton was ordered to not possess guns as a term of a restraining order his wife, Zina Haughton, had obtained against him. Zina Haughton, a hairstylist at the Azana Salon & Spa, was killed in the shooting.

“When the officers put out an all needs assistance, especially in close proximity to the recent incidents we have had in southeastern Wisconsin, that is another reason we so many agencies responded to help out their fellow officers and to make sure the citizens and the scene is safe,” Jack said.

One Brookfield grandmother who was waiting to get into a nearby residence told Waukesha Patch her teenage granddaughter was home alone at a neighboring home. The woman, who would not give her name, told Patch that her granddaughter was at Brookfield Square Mall on Sunday when Haughton opened fire at the salon across the street from the mall.

“It’s very eerie,” said the woman, shaking her head. “Now this.”

Sally Jansen lives in the neighborhood and believes she knew the suspect and the victim, based on the suspect’s age and history of domestic violence.

“About two or three years ago, he was hauled off by police officers for domestic abuse and was removed from our premises,” Jansen said. “I was told he couldn’t come back for four years. I just know that there has been a lot of battle in the court system with it.”

Related Topics: Breaking News and Shooting

Tracy Craft

5:07 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

I think there has been enough shootings already. I hope that it turns out that no one dies or something like that.

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KKP

5:23 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Whole goddam country is going crazy.

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barium

6:26 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

No, just a very tiny % of people because evil exists around us.

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KKP

9:09 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Barium, it's hardly a very tiny percent.

Fred van der Wal

5:32 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Need to get worse before it gets better.

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Preventable ChildAbuse

1:18 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

IF YOU CAN PROVIDE INFO TO HIS IDENTITY OR WHY THEY HAVE CONCEALED HIS IDENTITY IT WOULD BE GOOD AND IMPORTANT
THANKS

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Sarah Millard

2:06 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Police have not concealed his identity, however, we generally do not name people until they are charged.

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Preventable ChildAbuse

3:46 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Well how can he be not charged when the police i the video said he fired a shot at police It makes no sense and they also stated he violated a restraining order How can he not be charged something is very peculiar

Pennyluhu

6:16 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Just happened upon this mess on way home from work. Gotta say SOME PEOPLE ARE STUPID!! I heard a sheriff deputy tell two different motorists that they couldn't go through and these two men wanted to argue. He yelled "it's too dangerous!" Why do some folks think they're above obedience? This is part of society's problem. There were many others walking toward the police line, standing around, etc. Ever hear of stray bullets?? Please let these brave men and women do their job. They can't keep themselves and everyone else safe if idiots keep getting in the way. God bless them for what they do.

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big ben

6:19 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Too many police at one place its rediculous.

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dean skrobis

6:49 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Whats the world comming to cant people just get along ....we have enough problems in this world

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dean skrobis

6:54 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Whats going on with this world these day

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Anonymous

6:56 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Shooting like a mad man....out the old coot out of his misery!!!

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Elliott

8:04 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO HOME DONT LIKE ONE BIT!!!!

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pat

9:25 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

I live 2 blocks from this. I can't believe it could happen in our quiet neighbor. I'm sad and upset but mostly I am shocked at the number of people that paraded past our house so they could get in the way of the police officers that were riskng their lives just trying to do their jobs. Really people? Get a life. Stay away from things like this. Stay home and watch it on the news like we did.

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CAS

1:07 am on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Who edits these articles?????? One error is forgiveable. This one contains multiple errors. Sloppy reporting.

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KKP

7:19 am on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Okay, I love how we don't "release the suspect's name" because he hasn't been charged yet, but we tell everyone that he was the director of clowns for the Tripoli Shrine Center in 2008....a google search is all it took....

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KKP

7:19 am on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

...seriously...if you're not going to identify the suspect, do a better job of not identifying him...

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Annie Nominous

11:21 am on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

He gives clowns a bad reputation and clowns already have it difficult because of rampant clown phobias.

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Preventable ChildAbuse

3:18 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Clowns already have a bad name dont you know ......... they need be regulated
GACY (killer) JOSE GUADELOUPE JIMENEZ (kidnap rape )

Preventable ChildAbuse

1:21 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Why was the title edited from when it said Clown Director ?
Like to know what this mans identity is and why they have concealed his identity ?
Very curious
Please let me know more and kep me updated on this important matter
Trying to regulate entertainers such as Clowns Santa , magicians , face painters , costume characters etc Need to REGULATE Legislate
DEMAND
LICENSE WITH CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK PLEASE KEEP KIDS SAFE

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Preventable ChildAbuse

1:58 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

It says he was not charged yet he violated conditions on the restraining order hmm something sounds very peculiar here No revealing the identity Very curious

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Preventable ChildAbuse

2:03 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Not revealing his identity
Shooting at police
Violating a restrtaining order yet not revealing his identity
Hmm very interesting and curious
He the director of Tripoli shrine clowns ? Very strange they dont say his
identity
People demand his identity and why his identity is concealed ?
VERY CURIOUS NO NAME MUST HAVE A HIGH POSITION SOMEWHERE
PLEASE PEOPLE DEMAND EXPLANATION
WHY IDENTITY INFORMATION IS WITHHELD WHY ?

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Sarah Millard

2:10 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

He hasn't been charged with a crime yet. We'll give the name when he is charged. There is no "cover up" here.

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KKP

4:16 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

If you really want to know who he is, Google "who was 2008 director of clowns for tripoli shrine center". Easy peasy. And doesn't put Patch on the hook.

Preventable ChildAbuse

3:46 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

How can he not be charged if he fired shot at police that whats the cop says in the video So how could he not be charged ? Please explain

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John Bonhomme

4:39 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Look stupid, it is still under investigation, and the DA does the charging not the police. He is in custody and I am sure his name will be released once it hits courts and he is formally charged. Now stop trolling

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Mechinf94

8:47 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

What the hell is wrong with you?!!? Take 5 seconds and inform yourself on how the law works, ya moron!!

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Sarah Millard

9:29 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

He's in custody and has not YET been charged. He is likely to be charged tomorrow.

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