Veteran's family outraged by police

ASHWAUBENON - The family of an 85-year-old veteran is speaking to FOX 11 about an incident where police In Waupaca County used a stun gun on the man.

The incident happened just over two weeks ago near the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King near Waupaca. Police say they acted appropriately when using the Taser on the man, because he was combative and did not cooperate with a deputy's requests. However, the man's family is outraged by what happened.

"Dad has got dementia," said Dale Brunner. "He gets confused a lot."

Dale Brunner's dad is 85-year-old Edward Brunner, a veteran and a father of four, grandfather and great-grandfather to many more.

Members of Brunner's familiy are upset about a Waupaca County sheriff's deputy using a stun gun on Brunner.

"I was outraged," said Shane Brunner, Edward Brunner's grandson. He wants the deputy who used the stun gun on his grandfather to be suspended, at a minimum.

Police used a stun gun on the man when he was walking near the Veterans Home at King. Police reports say the man was not listening to the deputy there, and became combative.

"For a young, hopefully physically fit county police officer to have to tase an 85-year-old man with dementia, who's distraught because his wife just died, I mean, if you can't come up with any other way, other than using excessive force to get him to comply, I just think there's an issue there," said Shane Brunner.

The sheriff's department reviewed the incident and said the deputy acted appropriately.

Police reports show the deputy removed a cartridge from the Taser before using it on the man.

"If he was so combative I don't understand how they had enough time to take a piece out of the gun," said Monica Gruse, Brunner's granddaughter.

"You just don't do that to an elderly person," said Dale Brunner. "That's not right."

Family members tell FOX 11 after the stun gun incident, the man was taken to a mental health center for an evaluation, and was kept there for three days, which caused him to miss his wife's funeral. The funeral was held the day after the deputy used the stun gun on Brunner.

"I was pretty shocked. I mean if nothing else you should at least let him go to the funeral," said Shane Brunner.

Members of Edward Brunner's family are exploring their legal options, and say their priority is makign sure something similar doesn't happen again.

FOX 11 has given the Waupaca County Sheriff's Department multiple opportunities to comment for this story, but the department has refused our request.