NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) – The owner of Eagle Nation Cycles invited the media into his shop Wednesday to take a look at the scene of Saturday’s shooting incident in Neenah.
Steve Erato led a group that included friends, family and pretty much anyone who wasn’t affiliated with law enforcement on a tour of the damage left behind from both the hostage standoff, and the evidence gathering by state investigators.
What was seen by onlookers was numerous bullet holes, a powder-covered work area apparently caused by a fire extinguisher that was struck by gunfire, knocked over photos and other mementos, along with torn up chairs, couches and other parts of Erato’s business.
“I’m anxious to leave to be honest with you,” Erato told the media after the tour. “It’s going to be hard to get back in here, I’m going to hire a company that’s going to clean it up, but it’s never going to be the same.”
The Neenah Police Department issued a statement, which said in part:
“It is our duty to provide the public with timely, accurate information that is not tainted by personal agenda. However, we also must be careful not to jeopardize the ongoing investigation. Currently the lead agency, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, is completing critical interviews of those involved in the incident.”
Erato says, despite its appearances, Wednesday’s media and public invite to the former crime scene isn’t intended to disrupt the investigation.
“I think we’re just telling the truth. We want people to know what really happened and see what really happened,” says Erato. “The last time we dealt with them, they altered the story and I think they’re altering this story right now.”
Erato is referring to his $50 million federal lawsuit against the city of Neenah, Neenah police and Winnebago County. At issue is a September 2012 drug raid on Eagle Nation Cycles they say violated their civil rights.
“They altered the security tapes, they planted drugs in my office and they erased the security cameras they were wearing,” said Erato. “And I wanted to make sure if there was anything that was found, that you guys could see it just the same way we did.”
Further on in the media release from Neenah Police Chief Kevin Wilkinson, “It is not uncommon for groups to attempt to manipulate news media to propagate a biased and sometimes false representation of an incident. Due to misleading statements being made about the Neenah case, the Department of Justice has released limited information to counter those claims.“
Wilkinson added that his department advocates a full release of all video, statements and other evidence in this case, “as early as practical“. He also said he’s proud of, “the character and skills displayed by our officers during and after this challenging incident“.
“How many shots could they fire? I mean, I believe the mayor said 30, they couldn’t hit this guy at all? And then they turn around and abandoning the hostages,” said Erato. “I mean, is that what anyone would want if there was a school shooting?”
Erato was not just critical of the law enforcement response to Saturday’s incident, but regrets that he listened to a dispatcher urging him not to get personally involved.
“I’m on record downstairs that I wanted to come up with my bow, I should’ve come up with my bow and took the guy out, that’s what should’ve happened,” Erato said. “Michael and me both made the mistake of counting on the police, and that was a huge mistake.”
Erato says he’s never dealt with the Wisconsin Department of Justice to know whether or not to trust their handling of the investigation. He does, however, say he has a problem with the Neenah Police Department.
SURVIVING HOSTAGES TELL THEIR STORY
Ryan Moderson and Mike Petersen, along with M.L. Funk, were held at gunpoint for several hours at Eagle Nation Cycles by alleged gunman Brian Flatoff.
Moderson says it started when Funk answered the buzzer at the back door, where it’s common the shop gets deliveries or people picking up their motorcycles.
“A few seconds later, M.L. came through the door backwards, I saw that the shooter had a gun present,” says Moderson. “He looked at me, I looked at my son, I told him to leave and he went out the front door.”
Mike Petersen says he showed up to chat with Funk, something they normally do. Petersen says he could see that M.L. was not happy.
“I’ll stop back later and talk to ya, and the fellow behind him reached in (for his gun) and said you’re not going anywhere,” said Petersen. “And I said I guess you’re right…it was pretty scary.”
Moderson says it appeared that Flatoff was not sober, coming in making demands that were not very intelligible. But Flatoff apparently saw his bike on the lift, and wanted Moderson to take it down.
“He made me take it off the lift and begin to put it back together at gunpoint so he could load it in his truck supposedly,” says Moderson. “I did as I was told, but I ran out of stuff, you can’t put it together in 20 minutes.”
Police initially stormed inside and exchanged gunfire with Flatoff, before retreating.
“I heard ‘police, drop your gun drop your gun.’ I got down on the floor, and got behind the counter, immediately the gunfire erupted.”
Moderson says after all of that, he was shocked to still hear Flatoff’s voice and that they were still being held hostage.
“At that time, I was assuming the SWAT team would come around the corner and secure me,” says Moderson. “I then heard the shooter still talking, and I couldn’t believe it, I was like ‘where are the cops?’”
Eventually, Funk made it to the back door and fled after repeated calls by Flatoff to shut the door. But that’s when the 60-year-old Funk came across police, who say they ordered him to drop the gun he was holding. Police say when Funk ignored those commands, they opened fire.
His daughter, Athea Callahan, was emotional during the tour of the shop.
“I can’t bring him back, that’s what I want,” said Callahan.
Flatoff eventually walked the hostages by gunpoint to the door.
“And then I went outside, and I saw M.L. laying in the alley,” Moderson said as he got choked up.
