19-year-old Hillsboro man arrested on 8 counts, including Harassment with Fear of Death and injury and Battery to a Law Enforcement Officer

Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson reports the arrest of Nathanael Ivan Witaker, 19 of Hillsboro. Tuesday afternoon (January 27) at approximately 3:45, a deputy sheriff personally served Witaker a court-ordered Temporary Restraining Order in the City of Hillsboro. The Sheriff’s Office received information with concerns on how Witaker would react to receiving the order and took proactive steps to closely monitor the situation and communicate with the protected person and other potential victims.

At approximately 7:30 pm Tuesday night, the Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch Center received a report that Witaker was communicating disturbing comments in the Hillsboro area. An officer from the Hillsboro Police Department immediately responded and provided a communication link with deputies. Less than fifteen minutes later, the Sheriff’s Office received a report that Witaker left a residence in Hillsboro. A deputy was immediately sent to a rural Coon Valley residence, a likely location Witaker would go. Just as the deputy was arriving, the Sheriff’s Office received a report that a vehicle described similarly to Witaker’s was observed in the vicinity of that residence operating in the dark with no headlights illuminated. While the deputy remained at the residence to protect potential victims, more officers were dispatched to the area.

At approximately 8:20, the Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting that someone was inside a residence and help was needed. Although a general location was given, the caller was unable to provide 911 dispatchers with an address. Data from the 911 call geographically plotted the wireless phone along a town road, near where the deputy was positioned, but there was no structure at that location. It was later determined that Witaker, using an alias name, was the caller.

At 8:30, deputies located Witaker on foot near a vehicle that was parked on the town road. Witaker resisted arrest, a struggle ensued, and Witaker was subsequently taken into custody. Witaker was in possession of a large knife. He was transported to the Sheriff’s Office Detention Center for eight counts which include: Harassment with Fear of Death/Injury; Stalking; Violating and Harassment of a Restraining Order; Resisting or Obstructing an Officer; Battery to a Law Enforcement Officer; Bail Jumping; Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Injunction—Attempt; and Carrying a Concealed weapon, no permit.

A deputy sheriff and a City of Westby police officer were injured. The deputy sheriff was treated at Vernon Health and released. The Westby police officer received treatment at both Vernon Health and Mayo Clinic Health System and was released.

Nathanael Witaker appeared in Vernon County Circuit Court Wednesday and was ordered to be held on one hundred thousand dollars bond. Witaker is due back in court Tuesday (February 3).

---