Police incident in Fond du Lac, Aug. 20, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A 32-year-old Fond du Lac man was arrested following a police standoff Wednesday that spanned nearly four hours and stemmed from a domestic violence incident.
At approximately 5:45 p.m., the Fond du Lac Police Department told residents in the area around the 800 block of Martin Avenue to shelter in place due to law enforcement activity.
Officials later disclosed the incident took place inside an apartment located at 868 Martin Ave.
It was about 5:10 p.m. when two people approached a police officer in the area conducting follow-up for an unrelated incident. They expressed concern for their son’s mental health, saying they had received suicidal text messages from him.
The witnesses told the officer a 29-year-old woman was inside the apartment with her eight-month-old child and the man was preventing her from leaving. The man was armed with a box cutter.
Authorities say the man released the mother and her baby from the apartment when more police arrived on scene. Officers moved them to a safe, secure location and documented additional reports of domestic violence that occurred throughout the day.
As a precaution, a shelter-in-place was issued for residents of the building and surrounding neighborhood while Officers established a perimeter and evacuated neighbors as the suspect remained inside the apartment.
SWAT and crisis negotiation teams tried to get the man to exit the residence. Armored rescue vehicles, K9 units and drone and robot resources were deployed.
Police said neighbors may have heard loud noises when flash bang devices were used to “safely gain control of this situation.” Law enforcement also used an “explosive breach tactical technique” to make entry into the residence, resulting in an explosion-like sound.
The man was taken into custody around 9:15 p.m. An investigation into the domestic violence incidents is still ongoing.
“We are incredibly thankful this traumatic incident ended without further harm to a mother and her child,” said FDLPD Chief Aaron Goldstein in a news release. “This was a dangerous situation and the coordinated response by our FDLPD Officers alongside our law enforcement partners was instrumental in ensuring a safe outcome. I am proud of the courage and professionalism shown by our Officers and thankful for the agencies who continue to stand beside us when every second counts.”
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