Post Messenger Recorder -

At approximately 7:10 a.m., on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, the Green County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance in the downtown area of the Village of Brooklyn and were notified shortly thereafter that a shot had been fired by an individual involved in the disturbance. Upon their arrival, Deputies locked down the area and specialized units, along with members of the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the scene.

The individual suspected of being involved in the disturbance and of firing the shot was located about 2 and a half hours later in the Village of Oregon, and taken into custody. Paul W. Douglas, 75, Brooklyn, is being held in the Green County Jail on charges of Disorderly Conduct While Armed and Recklessly Endangering Safety.

Initial investigation revealed that the incident stemmed from a dispute involving the removal of a tree. There were no injuries to citizens or law enforcement officials during the incident.

Responding and assisting agencies included the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, New Glarus Police Department, Madison Police Department, Oregon Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol and Brooklyn EMS.

Due to the incident, the polling place for the Village of Brooklyn had been moved to the Brooklyn Public Works Department and stayed there for the remainder of the day. There is no indication that the incident was related to any polling activity.

This incident remains under investigation.

Green County Sheriff Jeff Skatrud, Green County Chief Deputy Tom Moczynski