(Newswire.net — October 30, 2014) Madison, Wis. — When unmarked cars showed up at 75 year old Wisconsin man’s back yard, he called the police. When officer on the phone explained that it was the police on his doorstep, he called his lawyer. In a small town in Wisconsin, 24 armed police members and armored police vehicle, came to collect a civil judgment and seize property of an old man. He later on filed a $4.5 million lawsuit against the town.
“Rather than provide Mr. Hoeppner or his counsel notice…and attempt to collect without spending thousands of taxpayer dollars on the military-style maneuvers, the town unilaterally decided to enforce its civil judgment with a show of force” Hoeppner’s lawyer said.
It is not normal behavior for someone to ignore the police calls and to lock himself in the house, Marathon County Chief Deputy Chad Billeb said.
“We don’t want to take a chance with our officers’ safety,” said Deputy expressing his concern over a lot of threatening statements towards police.
Hoeppner restores antique tractors and runs a pellet repair business on his 20 acres. In 2008, the town sued Hoeppner over claimed violations of ordinances about zoning, signs, rubbish and vehicles. He was ordered by a judge in September 2010 to clean up his land and to pay a fine. Hoeppner did not respond to the order. The judge then authorized the town to seize assets, which officials did in summer of 2011, selling the tractors, pallets and other items. Hoeppner thought that the issue was setteled, however, the judge then issued him a $500-a-day fine in April 2013 for his previous non-compliance. Since he didn’t pay, that sum soon amounted to $86,000, which the town sought to collect.
“People may not always understand why, but an armored vehicle is almost a necessity now,” said Billeb defending the presence of MARV in front of the old man’s house. As Hoeppner’s son got “pushy” and tried bowling past them, a lieutenant handcuffed the property owner, police said, according to the Daily Herald.
In exchange for Hoeppner paying the bill that day, Stettin officials agreed to drop $6,000 from his bill, however, that is unlikely to be paid.
“The $86,000 figure is enough to shock most men,” the 75-year-old said. “And they wanted it now, today.” The events of the day so upset Hoeppners wife, that she end up in the hospital.