By Tina L. Scott

MMC Staff

VILLIAGE OF MAINE – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) released an update on Feb. 23, 2022, pertaining to a Marathon County officer-involved critical incident in the Village of Maine in Aug. 2021 that resulted in the arrest of a Gleason man.

According to the DOJ press release, on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, “At approximately 10:30 p.m., a Marathon County Deputy Sheriff observed a vehicle parked at a car dealership near County Rd. WW that had eluded a Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff attempting to stop the driver for a speed violation. The Marathon County Deputy Sheriff gave verbal commands to the driver, who did not comply with the verbal commands. A male subject got out of the driver’s side of the vehicle and shot at the Deputy Sheriff who then returned fire. A female subject remained in the vehicle, unknown to the Deputy Sheriff until right before the male subject opened fire. Both the male and female subjects were injured by gunfire. Law enforcement immediately rendered aid to both the male and female subject.”

While the Deputy Sheriff was not injured, both the male and female subjects were transported to area hospitals and have since been released.

Schwartz

The male subject, Zackery D. Schwartz, 25, of Gleason, has since been charged with numerous felony charges as a result of the incident, including first degree intentional homicide. Schwartz is being charged as a repeat offender, which carries with it additional penalties and possible jail time.

The charges filed by the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office include attempting first degree intentional homicide, repeater; first degree recklessly endangering safety, repeater; two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, repeater; intentionally pointing firearm-law enforcement officer, repeater; possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, second or subsequent offense, repeater; possession of narcotic drugs, repeater; possession of cocaine – second and subsequent offense, repeater; possession of THC – second and subsequent offense, repeater; possession of a controlled substance – second and subsequent offense, repeater; possession of drug paraphernalia, repeater; operating with restricted controlled substance in blood – second offense, repeater; and operating motor vehicle while revoked, repeater.

Schwartz is currently incarcerated in the Wisconsin State Prison System, according to the release.

As in any criminal proceeding, Schwartz is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

According to the release, DCI led the investigation, assisted by the Wausau Police Department, Wausau Fire & EMS, and Wisconsin State Patrol, and all involved law enforcement fully cooperated with DCI during the investigation.