Richard A. Petarius and Phyllis D. Petarius
76-year-old man remains in custody after being charged with multiple felonies and surviving a gunfight with Waukesha police who discharged 26 rounds at the suspect.
By H. Nelson Goodson
October 26, 2012
Waukesha, WI - On Thursday, Richard A. "Dick" Petarius, 76, was charged with nine felony counts and one misdemeanor count for Tuesday's shootout with police, an hour-long standoff and violating a court injunction. Petarius was charged with nine felony counts for 1st-degree intentional homicide; two counts for 1st-degree recklessly endangering safety; armed burglary with a dangerous weapon; false imprisonment; intimidating a witness by damaging property; possession of a weapon contrary to an injunction; possession of a short barrel shotgun and aggravated battery of an elderly. He was also charged with one misdemeanor count for violating a domestic abuse injunction.
A $500,000 cash bond was set for Petarius and remains at the Waukesha County jail. He is facing more than two life sentences, if convicted on all counts and more than $100,000 of fines or both.
With his current age, Petarius will most likely die in prison of old age before doing to much time, if convicted.
Last Tuesday, Waukesha police responded to a domestic violence call at the Wynwood Condominiums at the 1800 block of Racine Ave. where a 75-year-old woman was being interviewed when her former husband appeared from inside the condo with a short barrel 12-gauge shotgun and fired at police. Petarius had a restraining order against him since 2010 lasting until 2014. Petarius had just appeared in a Waukesha County court that same day for contempt of court for not paying alimony and not signing over tax refunds to his former wife, Phyllis D. Petarius.
Phyllis D., 75, had been married to Petarius for more than 53 years. She suffered a broken arm around 4:00 p.m. when Petarius allegedly grabbed her arm and pushed her to a concrete garage floor when he forced his way into the condo.
Her daughter called police. When police arrived minutes later and were conducting an interviewed with the victim, Petarius suddenly appeared from inside the condo with a shotgun and pointed it at his ex-wife, including police and then fired.
Phyllis D. was removed from the entrance of the condo to another location by an officer, while another officer fired multiple rounds at Petarius and into the condo to keep him distracted when the gunfight ignited. Police fired at least 26 rounds at Petarius.
The victim and her daughter were later taken to the Waukesha Memorial Hospital for treatment due to injuries suffered at the scene.
One officer was grazed in the head by debris and survived, according to Waukesha Police Chief Russell Jack. The officers involved were placed in administrative duty until the outcome of the shooting investigation.
Chief Jack confirmed, that Petarius was not injured during the gunfight with police and was taken into custody unharmed after an hour-long standoff ended with police. Petarius' attorney helped defuse the standoff, according to police.
Petarius was living in Watertown, according to Waukesha court records.
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