On Sept. 8 at approximately 9:05 p.m., 27-year-old Alexander J. Schneider of Taylor County was taken into custody as a result of his involvement in a shooting incident that injured a Taylor County deputy sheriff.
The injured deputy has been identified as Chad R. Kowalczyk, a five-year veteran of the department. Kowalczyk remained Monday under medical care at an area hospital.
According to a statement from Taylor County Sheriff Bruce Daniels, Deputy Kowalczyk had made contact with Schneider in the town of Westboro as a result of a reported violation of a court ordered injunction. During that contact, Schneider fired at the deputy, who ultimately reported to the dispatch center that he was injured.
Emergency medical personnel were dispatched along with additional law enforcement officers. Kowalczyk also received assistance from concerned citizens in the area.
Taylor County received law enforcement assistance from the Medford Police Department, Clark, Marathon, Eau Claire, Lincoln, Chippewa and Price county sheriff’s offices.
The Westboro and Rib Lake fire departments provided assistance with traffic control. Rib Lake Ambulance and First Responders along with Medevac and an area Flight for Life service provided medical treatment and assistance to the injured officer.
Schneider was ultimately transported and booked into the Lincoln County Jail.
According to Sheriff Daniels, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office does not believe there is any further risk of danger in the area of this incident and would like to assure residents that the situation is diffused.
The investigation into this matter is ongoing and being conducted by the state of Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. Assistance is also being provided by the Wisconsin State Crime Lab and the Wisconsin State Patrol.
“Aggressive investigation into this matter is continuing,” Daniels stated.