COLFAX, WI (WTAQ) – The police chief of Colfax was justified in shooting a female suspect who was approaching him with a machete she refused to drop.
Dunn County District Attorney Andrea Nodolf has ruled that Chief William Anderson acted in self-defense when he wounded Beth Mittelstadt. He shot her in the chest December 18th after he responded to her apartment.
The 44-year-old Mittelstadt is charged with attempted homicide, two counts of reckless endangerment, and obstructing an officer. She pleaded not guilty this week to those charges, plus arson for allegedly trying to burn down a house last May after a drug deal went sour.
Officials said Anderson was trying to arrest Mittelstadt for the arson case when the shooting occurred. The DA also said she threw her machete at a Dunn County sheriff’s sergeant soon after he arrived — and it missed him by just inches.
The sergeant was able subdue Mittelstadt with a stun gun. Officials said her blood alcohol level at the time was 0.12 — which would be one-and-a-half times above the minimum for drunk driving.
Mittelstadt is due back in court March 31st for a final pre-trial conference.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)