Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
A 28-year-old Belle Plaine man was taken into custody Friday in connection with a shooting incident outside a bar the day before.
A charge of endangering safety with the use of a weapon has been referred to the district attorney’s office, along with a bail jumping charge. The man was on probation in connection with an operating while intoxicated offense in Waupaca, according to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department.
Additional charges could be filed, authorities said.
He was taken into custody without incident around 12:30 p.m.
Charges were not expected to be filed until Monday. He was being held on probable cause, which allows authorities to keep him in custody longer than 48 hours without a charge being filed.
Authorities believe the man fired a round from a 9 mm handgun during an apparent drug deal gone bad early Thursday. No one was hurt in the incident, which took place outside Mickster’s bar shortly before 2:30 a.m., according to the sheriff’s department.
The incident was still being investigated, but initial information indicates that the suspect fired a round at a vehicle that was leaving the scene after an altercation. He then pointed the gun at witnesses, telling them they were next, before also leaving the scene.
A 24-year-old New London man called authorities just after the incident.
When deputies arrived they saw two people flee in a vehicle that was immediately pulled over.
The driver — a 21-year-old New London man — was charged with operating while intoxicated and taken into custody on a probation and parole hold. He was also cited for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The man told deputies there had been an altercation earlier at Mickster’s.
Authorities found a 9 mm shell casing at the scene.