Charges filed in Konitzer Road melee

Three people were charged last week in the wake of a May 1 disturbance on Konitzer Road in the Town of Oconto Falls, and Oconto County District Attorney Edward Burke said more charges were forthcoming.

Most serious of the allegations is an attempted first-degree intentional homicide count against Joey J. Vandewettering, 59, of Gillett, who is charged with breaking a truck’s windshield with a trident spear, shoving it at the driver, narrowly missing him, and finally discharging a shotgun at the truck as it drove away.

Two other people are charged with drug crimes, and Burke said May 5 that he expected to file complaints against other individuals who were staying at or visiting the Konitzer Road residence.

The disturbance apparently began shortly after 8 a.m. when Daniel J. McDermid came home to the Konitzer Road property after being released from jail to pick up some of his belongings, Burke said.

After his arrest, Vandewettering told a deputy that McDermid had damaged one of his motorcycles, which was parked on the property, and that is what lead to the altercation according to the complaint. Vandewettering said that McDermid attacked him and the fight escalated.

McDermid said he was taking his tires off a custom-made trike when Vandewettering came outside with the three-pronged spear. He got in his truck, and Vandewettering broke the windshield, then came around to the driver’s side and shoved the weapon through that window, impaling the seat, the complaint said.

He said he was driving away when Vandewettering allegedly shot at the truck. McDermid said he was struck above the eye by a BB, and there were birdshot marks all down the side of the truck, the complaint said.

After talking with McDermid and before any arrests were made, deputies developed a plan to enter the property, which included “multiple campers, vehicles, buses, outbuildings and an unknown number of individuals,” according to the complaint. The Oconto County Sheriff’s Department’s mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle was deployed and used for cover as armed deputies cleared several individuals from the property.

Vandewettering told a deputy he believed he had broken ribs as well as head and back injuries from McDermid attacking him with a lead pipe, but he was medically cleared and the deputy reported seeing only one bad bruise on the man’s left forearm. Vandewettering further said he threw the spear because he had been attacked but “was not forthcoming” over whether he had used a firearm during the altercation, the complaint said.

Frustrated that he was arrested and McDermid was not, Vandewettering said he “may get a deer rifle and shoot at squad cars in the future to see what happens” and would wait for McDermid to leave the courthouse one day with a firearm to kill him, according to the complaint.

In addition to attempted first-degree intentional homicide, Vandewettering was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, threatening a law officer and misdemeanor battery. During a May 4 court hearing, Judge Michael T. Judge set bail at $150,000 cash and adjourned his initial appearance until 1 p.m. May 19.

Also charged after the incident were:

• London Nicole Hiers, 32, of Marinette, who was staying at the Konitzer Road residence and is charged with possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a drug trafficking place and misdemeanor possession of THC.

• Robert L. McDermid Jr., 44, who lives at the home and, after a search warrant was executed, was charged with possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony, possession of methamphetamine, possession of THC (second or subsequent offense), maintaining a drug trafficking place, three counts of felony bail jumping and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hiers and Robert McDermid are also due back in court on May 19.