For the Tomahawk Leader
TOWN OF CRESCENT – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), on Wednesday, Feb. 7, identified the law enforcement personnel and the individual involved in a shooting incident in the Town of Crescent in Oneida County last month.
According to DOJ, at approximately 8:39 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office received two hang-up 911 calls requiring a welfare check at a residence located in the 1600 block of River St.
Three Oneida County Sheriff’s deputies – Sgt. Thomas Williams, Deputy Michael Bedish and Deputy Cole Lehman; and two Rhinelander police officers – Sgt. Christie Kondzela and Officer Graeme Biskobing, responded to the residence.
Upon arrival at the residence, law enforcement determined there were two subjects inside. DOJ said law enforcement entered the residence, where they were met with gunfire by Steven Kincaid, 33. One of the deputies returned fire. All law enforcement retreated outside the residence, backed away and created a perimeter. Kincaid continued to shoot at the officers from the second level of the house, and gunfire was exchanged, according to DOJ.
Tactical team members from the Vilas, Oneida, Marathon, Langlade and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Offices responded to the residence. DOJ said verbal commands were attempted without response, and non-lethal tactics were deployed.
Eventually, the second subject came out of the residence and was evaluated by emergency medical services on scene.
The tactical team entered the house and located Kincaid, who was deceased.
No law enforcement personnel were injured during the incident.
DOJ said the involved officers from Rhinelander Police Department were each wearing a body camera during the incident. Both the Rhinelander Police Department and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office have squad cameras.
DCI is leading this investigation and is assisted by DCI Crime Response Specialists and members of DCI’s Digital Evidence Unit. All involved law enforcement are fully cooperating with DCI during this investigation, according to DOJ.
DCI is continuing to review evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over investigative reports to the Oneida County District Attorney when the investigation concludes.
DCI noted that Williams has over nine years of law enforcement experience; Bedish, over three-and-a-half years; Lehman, over one year; Kondzela, over 10 years; and Biskobing, over one year.