Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 9:49 a.m., the Barron County Sheriff’s Department received two calls of a subject in a truck that had pulled into their driveways looking for his child. When the complainants stated his child was not there, he pointed a firearm at them. These incidents took place just off Hwy SS between Chetek and New Auburn.
Deputies responded to the residence of the suspect and located him outside with a firearm in his hands.
The Barron Rusk Emergency Response Team was called out as well as the Eau Claire Regional SWAT Team. During the incident, the suspect did point a firearm at deputies in the armored vehicle before getting his pickup and striking the Barron County armored vehicle, which caused his vehicle to become disabled.
The suspect, Joseph Pusheck, 60 of New Auburn, was taken into custody without further incident and is being held in the Barron County Jail on charges of Domestic Abuse, Disorderly Conduct, Endangering Safety-Intentionally Point Firearm at Law Enforcement, Endangering Safety Intentionally Point Firearm and is awaiting formal charges by the Barron County District Attorney Office.
There were no injuries to any deputies or the suspect.
