Barron County District Attorney Releases Report On Officer-Involved Death Of Zachary Veitch

BARRON COUNTY (DrydenWire) - Barron County District Attorney Brian Wright issued a report Monday with his findings regarding an officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of Zachary J. Veitch.

Related

• Two Cumberland Police Officers Injured During Apprehension Of Zachary Veitch
• Veitch's Competency Assessed Multiple Times; Court Accepts Guilty Plea, Orders Sentence

Press Release

The District Attorney’s Office has received and is reviewing information concerning a threat directed at officers who were involved in the Office Involved Death (OID) of Zachary J. Veitch. The law enforcement officers names have not been disclosed in this report for their protection pending completion of the criminal investigation into the threat to harm them.

At the time of the incident, Veitch was on probation after pleading guilty to punching a police officer in the face in 2021, and randomly entering a Rice Lake business and punching an employee in the face, in March 2023. Veitch had a lengthy history involving mental health treatment.

Once again, the destructive role that controlled substances have had in our community was evident in this incident. Residents at the Riverside Arms apartment complex where Veitch lived, in the City of Rice Lake, described his use of methamphetamine which they recognized from the smell coming from Veitch’s apartment. Agents with the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) located a green leafy substance consistent with marijuana on the nightstand in Veitch’s bedroom when they examined the scene.

See also: Convicted Sex Offender In Barron County Charged With Possession Of Child Pornography

Veitch’s ongoing use of controlled substances likely exacerbated his mental health disorders. As had happened in the past, Veitch became violent and dangerous on the night when police were called to the report of a stabbing victim at Riverside Arms.

District Attorney’s No Charging Decision

I have determined on the basis of my observations at the scene of the incident and my review of the DCI Investigation Report that the use of deadly force by officers who responded to Veitch’s apartment was reasonable and, therefore, privileged under the law of self-defense and defense of others. Responding officers acted reasonably when they used deadly force to protect themselves and other residents at Riverside Arms.

Full Report

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