GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The man who was shot by police in Grand Chute refused to drop what turned out to be a replica handgun, investigators said Wednesday.
The Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office, which has been called in to investigate, says Grand Chute police were looking for 34-year-old Pierce Don Lee Folkerts. The Green Bay-area man had a warrant for his arrest on felony and parole violation charges.
Online court records indicate Folkerts has been charged in Brown County with burglary, stealing a vehicle and fleeing police.
Folkerts was spotted Tuesday near an apartment complex in the area of W. Spencer Street and S. Bluemound Drive in Grand Chute. When an officer approached Folkerts, he ran off. Based on witness statements, surveillance video and police radio traffic, investigators say Folkerts pulled out a gun. He ignored commands to drop the gun, investigators say. At that point, Lt. Russ Blahnik of the Grand Chute Police Department shot Folkerts.
Folkerts was hit in the lower leg by two bullets. Officers gave him medical aid on the scene before he was taken to the hospital. He is expected to survive.
A replica handgun was found in the vestibule area of the building where Folkerts was shot. Investigators say they did not realize the gun was not real until they got a closer look at it.
The sheriff’s office provided a photo of the replica gun found at the scene, and a stock photo of a Sig Sauer 1911 for comparison.
Replica gun found on scene. PC: Outagamie County Sheriffs office
Stock image of Sig Sauer gun. PC: Outagamie County Sheriffs Office
When Outagamie County sheriff’s officials finish their investigation, they will turn the results over to the Outagamie County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether Blahnik should face criminal charges.
Blahnik, a 15-year veteran of the Grand Chute police force, has been placed on administrative leave per department policy until the investigation is complete.
