GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) – Outagamie County District Attorney Carrie Schneider says two Grand Chute police officers who shot at a retail theft and carjacking suspect were justified.
“Officers Shepard and Hanson then found themselves positioned in the front of the squad car, and noted that the car shifted into drive and the vehicle began driving at them,” Schneider said at a press conference Friday. “Fearing that their lives were in immediate danger and consistent with their training, both officers began firing their weapons into the squad car aiming to stop Lawrenz and the threat he had created.”
Schneider was talking about the results of an investigation conducted by her office and the Appleton Police Department.
Last Saturday, officers were investigating a retail theft at Pawn America in Grand Chute. Police say one of the suspects, Michael Lawrenz, became difficult.
As another cop arrived for backup, police say Lawrenz positioned himself into a K9 squad car, which also had a loaded AR-15 inside, and began to go in reverse and slam into another squad car before driving towards the 2 Grand Chute officers.
Police say Lawrenz was struck by a bullet in the bicep area.
The two Grand Chute officers who fired at Lawrenz have been identified as Benjamin Hanson, a two-year veteran and James Shepard, who has been with the department for seven months.
Lawrenz then allegedly drove the squad car into Appleton, where he used the lights to pull over another driver. He then carjacked that driver’s vehicle and was eventually caught on Interstate 41 in Brown County.
Lawrenz faces a total of 14 charges, including robbery, criminal damage, taking a car without consent, resisting arrest, and eight counts of bail jumping.
