Incident Type: Arrested Person

Incident Date: 4/30/25

Release Date: 5/1/25

Incident Number: FP25-09519

Prepared By: Captain Edward Hartwick

Fitchburg Police arrested a 31-year-old man Wednesday night after he had barricaded himself in a closet for nearly four hours. Around 7:40 p.m., officers went to a senior apartment complex in the 5100 block of Lacy Road to try to arrest the man on a felony warrant. The wanted man, Laron Smith, was the suspect in a theft investigation. Because Smith is on probation through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, a felony probation violation warrant had been issued for his arrest. 

When officers arrived at the apartment where they believed Smith was living, he initially came to the door but quickly retreated into a bedroom closet. Officers followed the man into the apartment and attempted to convince him to come out. Because Smith has a criminal history involving guns, including a 2024 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, officers summoned additional assistance. 

Additional resources, including the Fitchburg Police Department Crisis Negotiation Team, the Fitchburg Police Department Special Response Team, and the Fitchburg Police Department K9 Unit, responded to the scene. Personnel from the Madison Police Department and the Dane County Sheriff's Office also assisted in the response. 

Following multiple attempts to negotiate Smith's exit, pepper spray was deployed into the closet. Shortly before midnight, Smith exited the closet and was taken into custody.  No one was injured during this incident. Several residents in nearby apartments were temporarily evacuated to a community room in the building during the situation. 

He was later booked into the Dane County Jail on multiple charges including the probation violation warrant, resisting/obstructing an officer, theft and fraudulent use of a credit card.