FRANKLIN, Wis. — A man accused of pulling out a gun over a property line dispute with Indian Community School in Franklin has pled not guilty to criminal charges.
Steven Trudell, 62, faces two misdemeanors of intentionally pointing a gun and disorderly conduct after he allegedly aimed his gun at a maintenance worker who was trimming trees and brush at the school on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
According to a criminal complaint, the worker was cutting brush with a Bobcat when Trudell emerged from the woods on his property and pointed a gun at the worker while telling him to “shut it down.”
Trudell allegedly began yelling and swearing at the employee while waving the gun around, at one point making a “shooting” gesture as if signaling for the employee to leave.
The complaint says a 23-year-old man joined Trudell and began yelling derogatory statements about the property line argument. Trudell allegedly told the worker that “he has had numerous issues with the Indian Community School” and said “don’t worry you’re not going to get shot and to bring all the Indians.”
The employee told Franklin Police that he “may have trespassed a little bit” while working.
In a statement to police, Trudell said “when they see the gun that’s when people stop,” and that he displayed his gun “to
show he was serious about shutting the machine down.”
The confrontation prompted Indian Community School to close for the remainder of last week as a precaution, and to allow time for additional security measures to be implemented. The school is set to reopen on Monday, Sept. 21.
Trudell has a pre-trial conference and an injunction hearing related to a temporary restraining order set for Sept. 30
