Taser doesn’t deter RF man from resisting, injuring officers

By Sarah Nigbor
Posted 4/13/23

RIVER FALLS – A 39-year-old man seemed immune to multiple Taser deployments during a verbal domestic call in River Falls, injuring three officers in the process.

Kyle Blake Rithmiller, 39, …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Taser doesn’t deter RF man from resisting, injuring officers

Posted

RIVER FALLS – A 39-year-old man seemed immune to multiple Taser deployments during a verbal domestic call in River Falls, injuring three officers in the process.

Kyle Blake Rithmiller, 39, was ordered to pay $2,000 cash bail March 27 in St. Croix County Circuit Court on three felony battery or threat to judge, prosecutor or law enforcement officer and two felony resist officer – substantial bodily harm/soft tissue injury charges, along with one domestic disorderly conduct charge.

If convicted, he faces up to six years in prison and/or $10,000 in fines.

According to the complaint:

Dispatch advised police of a verbal domestic involving an intoxicated man and woman at 9:36 p.m. March 24 at 1021 Pine Ridge Terrace. When officers arrived, a 40-year-old woman met them at the door and waked them to a bedroom where Rithmiller was lying on a bed with a mask over his eyes. He immediately began using profanity and became argumentative. He also claimed he couldn’t hear because he was wearing earplugs, but the earplugs were in his hand. He remained under the covers and refused to comply with officers’ commands.

One officer was able to get one handcuff on Rithmiller’s wrist, but as they attempted to secure the second, he kept pulling away and resisting. Another officer deployed his taser into Rithmiller’s chest, but he just pulled the Taser prongs out of his skin. A second officer deployed his Taser, which didn’t seem to affect him at all. Rithmiller pulled out the prongs, got off the bed and ran toward the bedroom door. As he did so, he rammed his shoulder into the first officer and shoved them to the ground. A taser was deployed into Rithmiller’s back, but had no effect.

In the living room, Rithmiller threw himself on a bean bag-style chair and kept his hands hidden behind his back. At this point, deputies were dispatched from both St. Croix and Pierce counties. While attempting to get him to the ground, Rithmiller lifted his arm and struck the first officer in the nose, left eye and forehead, bringing them to the ground. He then got on top of the officer and attempted to put them in a headlock, cutting the officer’s ear with a handcuff. The officer was also bleeding from their nose. Rithmiller told his juvenile son to begin recording the incident, which he did.

Once officers were able to cuff Rithmiller, EMS responded to evaluate him and the officer for injuries. Rithmiller was bleeding from the taser prong injection sites. Police transported the injured officer to River Falls Area Hospital, where they glued the gash to their ear closed. Two other officers reported injuries, including cuts and bruises. Rithmiller was transported to St. Croix County Jail. He is scheduled to appear at 4 p.m. April 24 for a status conference.

River Falls police, River Falls, Wisconsin