Family of Butler County man killed by police files lawsuit claiming civil rights violations

The family of a 73-year-old Butler County man, who was having a mental health crisis before he was killed two years ago by the state police, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the state police.

Walter Wiemann was killed on Sept. 18, 2018, in the yard of his home in Renfrew after the Pennsylvania State Police sent its emergency response team in. Wiemann’s family called police because they were concerned about him and wanted to have him involuntarily committed.

A spokesman for the state police Butler barracks could not be reached late Monday.

A Vietnam veteran, Wiemann previously was diagnosed with severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alzheimer’s disease, the lawsuit said.

According to the lawsuit, Wiemann became upset that morning that there were no longer bees in the hives he kept.

He did not remember, the suit states, that he and his family cleaned out the hives and burned the remains because of a mite infection.

Wiemann was agitated and wondered if the neighbors had harmed the bees.

Knowing that her father was becoming more and more upset, the complaint says, his daughter, Tammi Kaufman, called 911 and was directed to the state police.

A trooper referred Kaufman and her mother, Karen Wiemann, to the Center for Community Resources Crisis Center for help, the complaint states.

The two women, a representative from the crisis center and state police met at an area park, the lawsuit says.

Troopers also responded to the Wiemann residence. There, they told the family, because of the long driveway and a vehicle in the garage, they could not see what Wiemann was doing or if he had any weapons.

Despite Wiemann’s wife and daughter advising the state police that the ringer on the phone of the house had been turned off because it exacerbated his his conditions, the lawsuit states, the troopers continued to try to call him.

He never answered.

The women also told the troopers that Wiemann had an antique hunting rifle stored in a gun cabinet that was not loaded, the complaint said.

During their interaction with the state police, Karen Wiemann signed paperwork to have her husband involuntarily committed.

The lawsuit says the state police became frustrated by their inability to contact Wiemann and called in their Special Emergency Response Team, including more than 30 troopers, an armored vehicle and at least one helicopter and a sniper.

The lawsuit alleges that the actions were reminiscent of Wiemann’s combat experiences in Vietnam.

Karen Wiemann and Kaufman, the complaint continues, pleaded with the state police to de-escalate the situation; and Kaufman requested that she be able to approach her dad to calm him.

The state police refused, the lawsuit claims.

At some point, it continues, a barn on the property was set on fire and, when Wiemann saw the building burn about 50 feet from the residence, he started walking toward it.

“When Mr. Wiemann was walking toward the barn, he turned, presumably because the (armored vehicle) was in his front yard, and saw the armored vehicle and squad cars,” the complaint said.

State troopers fired 12 to 14 shots, striking Wiemann once in the back of the head and twice in the shoulders, the suit claims.

The lawsuit alleges that, the day after Wiemann died, Kaufman found a footprint on the barn door that did not belong to anyone in the family.

“Plaintiffs also discovered fire damage to the barn that was not caused by Walter Wiemann or anyone in their family,” the lawsuit states. “Presumably, the fire was started intentionally by the SERT team as part of their ‘military’ strategy to lure Wiemann to his barn.”

The lawsuit also includes claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress, assault and battery.

Investigators said after the incident that Wiemann was making threats to himself, others and police, causing them to respond. Trooper Ron Kesten also said Wiemann raised a rifle and aimed it at a trooper, causing the trooper to fire.