WAUTOMA, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is conducting an officer involved death investigation that occurred in the Township of Wautoma, Wis. on the evening of Thursday, October 16, 2025.
At approximately 5:25 p.m., a deputy with the Waushara County Sheriff’s Office and a trooper with the Wisconsin State Patrol responded to a domestic violence call at a residence near the intersection of State Road 73 and County Road O in the Township of Wautoma. When the deputy arrived on scene, a male subject, 51-year-old Timothy Lehman, was standing outside of the residence and retreated into the residence. Upon the male subject retreating into the residence, the male subject fired a weapon at the deputy from inside of the residence and the deputy, Alex Midthun, with 4.5 years law enforcement experience with the Waushara County Sheriff’s Office, returned fire. The male subject barricaded himself inside of the residence and law enforcement officers attempted to negotiate with the male subject. Additional law enforcement officers arrived on the scene, including members of the Portage County Tactical Team and the Stevens Point/Plover Tactical Team, to assist. Law enforcement officers reported hearing gunshots from inside the residence. After attempted communication and other measures, law enforcement officers entered the residence, and the subject was located deceased inside the residence. The investigation has determined that the officer’s gunshots likely hit the subject, and the subject likely did not die from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
No law enforcement officers were injured during this incident.
Deputy Midthun is on administrative leave.
The Wisconsin State Patrol trooper had their squad camera activated during the incident.
DCI is leading this investigation and is assisted by a DCI Crime Response Specialist, the Wisconsin State Patrol Technical Reconstruction Unit and the Waushara County Medical Examiner’s Office.
All involved law enforcement are fully cooperating with DCI during this investigation.
DCI is continuing to review evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over the investigative reports to the Waushara County District Attorney’s Office when the investigation concludes.
Please direct all media inquiries to Wisconsin DOJ.
View this press release on the DOJ website here.
