Two in custody following armed standoff in south Point

By Brandi Makuski

Stevens Point police have taken two people into custody following an armed standoff at a southside motel.

Michael Westfahl, 37, and his 31-year-old wife, Denae, were both taken into custody on active warrants out of Adams Co. Both are residents of Wisconsin Rapids, according to Stevens Point police.

Police Chief Martin Skibba said the two were suspected of being involved in several armed burglaries in Adams Co. His department received a tip that the two were located in Knights Inn, on the 3400 block of Church St., at 3:40 p.m.

Denae Westfahl surrendered to police after eight minutes, Skibba said. She was seen crying as SWAT personnel took her into custody. Michael Westfahl came out after a little over an hour, he said.

“We found several loaded guns in the room, included an AR-15, and several pistols,” Skibba said.

SWAT teams from Plover and Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office were also deployed to the scene, with officers waiving away pedestrians from a possible line of fire outside the Westfahl’s motel room. Police closed off a portion of Church St. for about 30 minutes.

“We thought it looked like we were going to go on for a while, but fortunately, our negotiators did their jobs well and got him to come out,” said Assistant Police Chief Tom Zenner. “We got lucky, there were no injuries and both were taken into custody without incident.”

At least two K-9 units were also on the scene. Skibba said the two are being held at the Portage Co. Jail until he receives word from Adams Co. about possible extradition.