Washburn County Judge Appointed to Doug Nitek Trial

(Doug Nitek)

Washburn County Judge, Hon. Eugene D. Harrington has been appointed to preside over the murder trial of Doug Nitek, the man accused of killing Rusk County Deputy Dan Glaze last year.  

At a hearing in April, Nitek’s attorneys requested a substitution for Rusk County's only Judge, Steven Anderson. Judge Anderson had presided over a previous court case involving Nitek, and also attended the funeral for Deputy Glaze. When Judge Anderson declined to remove himself from the case, Nitek’s attorneys made the substitution request.

No trial date has been set, nor is it known at this time which county the trial will take place.

Nitek faces 31 counts filed against him after the October 2016 incident in which Deputy Dan Glaze was killed.

Nitek is charged with of 1^st Degree Intentional Homicide, along with 2 counts of Attempted 1^st Degree Intentional Homicide against two more deputies who were on scene during that incident. Additionally, Nitek is charged with 17 Counts of 1^st Degree Reckless Endangering Safety While Armed with a Dangerous Weapon for his actions against other officers who assisted during the situation. Nitek also faces charges of Possession of a Firearm as a Convicted Felon, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Criminal Damage to Property While Armed with a Dangerous Weapon, and Felony Bail Jumping While Armed with a Dangerous Weapon.

According to public records obtained and reviewed by DrydenWire.com, on October 29, 2016, when Deputy Dan Glaze responded to the call of a suspicious vehicle, his squad car camera recorded gunshots coming from Nitek's vehicle moments after Glaze initiated contact with Nitek's vehicle. Glaze called for back-up, but by the time other officers arrived, Glaze had already suffered gunshot wounds.

Multiple officers arrived on the scene from both the Rusk County Sheriff's Office and the Ladysmith Police Department. They were not able to immediately rescue Glaze from his squad car due to the continued gunfire coming from the area where Nitek's trailer was located.

Assistance was requested from law enforcement in Barron County, Chippewa County, Washburn County and Eau Claire County as well from the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation.

Officers ultimately took Nitek into custody and subsequently searched his vehicle and the trailer which was on the property and appeared to be his residence. The Wisconsin State Patrol's Technical Reconstruction Unit later mapped out the entire scene and this team were able to map out the trajectory of the majority of the gunshots fired by Nitek. Bullet fragments were recovered from inside Deputy Glaze's squad car and analyzed by the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory; the results of which tests confirmed that these bullets were a match to the rifle identified as belonging to Nitek.

DrydenWire.com will continue to update the community on this situation when any significant activity or progress develops and reminds our readers that arrested or charged individuals are presumed innocent until convicted by judge or jury.