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Waukesha DA: Walworth County deputy shooting justified

WALWORTH COUNTY — A Waukesha County district attorney has found a Walworth County sheriff's deputy was acting in self defense when he shot a fleeing bank robbery suspect driving toward him last month, according to a press release by the Walworth County Sheriff's Office.

In his review of the incident, Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel said Deputy Dan Nichols made the only reasonable decision he could under the circumstances when he shot at Robert Lynn, the suspect in an armed robbery at a bank in Sugar Creek on Aug 24, the release noted.

Employees at People's Bank North in Sugar Creek said the suspect was brandishing a handgun when he demanded money.

Employees were able to provide authorities with a description of the suspect and his vehicle. The description was picked up by a Wisconsin State Trooper, who spotted the vehicle and attempted to stop it during a 15-minute chase that reached speed of more than 80 mph in both Walworth and Waukesha counties

Nichols, aware of the chase, had stopped his squad car on Marsh Road near Mukwonago, and was kneeling down in the road to place "stop sticks" designed to deflate the tires on the suspect's vehicle. The suspect drove down the road, swerved around the sticks, and headed straight toward Nichols, who fired his weapon.

Schimel said Lynn had ample warning that Nichols was on the road, and the deputy, attempting to get out of the way, realized he had to stop the vehicle before it struck him. Lynn did stop the car after shots were fired.

Nichols, who had been placed on administrative duty pending the investigation, returned to full duty Sept. 18.