Triple Homicide Defendant's 'Strange' Behavior Didn't Justify Emergency Detention

Waukesha police officers who arrested Jaren M. Kuester, 31, on a warrant shortly before he traveled to Lafayette County where he is accused of did not have justification for protective placement at that time, according to Waukesha Police Capt. Ron Oremus.

The Waukesha Police Department conducted an internal review to ensure that the department’s protocols and procedures were followed. While it is not an internal investigation, the review was completed to determine what the arresting officers knew when they had contact with Kuester.

The Waukesha Police Department was called to Humane Animal Welfare Society on April 25 after it was reported Kuester was delusion over the death of his dog, who he had brought to the animal shelter two weeks earlier for cremation. Kuester thought his dog was alive and told staff at the animal shelter that they would “pay” for his dog’s death, according to reports.

Human Animal Welfare Society did not want to press charges and Kuester was taken into custody on a warrant. After his bail was posted, he left the Waukesha County area and was reported missing over the weekend.

“It was clear Kuester had mental issues, but this is not uncommon in law enforcement,” Kuester said. “Law enforcement often has contact with individuals with mental issues, but that alone, does not mean these individuals should be taken into protective custody.

“The standard officers use is whether or not the subject is a threat to himself/herself or others. In the Kuester case it is easy to look back and say he was clearly a threat since he later killed three people. However this is not a fair standard to judge the officers; we must only assess their actions based on the information the officers knew at the time of the contact.

“Kuester was acting strange at the time of contact, but again it is not unusually for people with mental illness to have contact with officers.  These people often seen as weird by others in the community, but are able to function in society without being a threat to themselves or others.”

Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter

While the officers acted appropriately after arresting Kuester on the warrant, according to Waukesha police, and he was turned over to Waukesha County Jail staff, Kuester’s actions in the next few days showed a greater threat, court records state.

Dean, Chloe and Gary Thoreson were found killed in Lafayette County on April 28. Kuester was arrested for their deaths after he was found at a Waukesha apartment complex later that afternoon. He admitted to killing the three people with the fireplace poker, according to reports.

Kuester told investigators he discarded his clothes on the way to Lafayette County because he thought he was being followed. He was driving through Wisconsin because he felt his life was falling apart, WISN 12 News reported.

His parents tried to get their son help before his arrest on April 25, saying their attempts to get him hospitalized for his delusional behavior was turned by Waukesha County Mental Health. However, officials say Kuester did not meet criteria for emergency detention at that time.