Burnett County man sentenced in 2022 officer-involved shooting case

A Burnett County man involved in a 2022 officer-involved shooting incident in Danbury was sentenced to 8 years in jail on Tuesday.

According to Sheriff Tracy Finch, Darryl Hanson pleaded guilty to six felony counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety after allegedly waving a pistol at patrons of the Fishbowl Tavern on July 2, 2022.

"The person went into the Fishbowl Bar and was waving a gun around, and refused to drop the gun for one of my deputies,” said Finch, who was present at the sentencing. “And he sustained some gunshot wounds from my deputy."

Finch said the plea deal avoided a jury trial that would have lasted a minimum of two weeks. 

According to a summary of the incident from the Burnett County District Attorney’s Office, Hanson crossed Highway 35 while waving a gun at patrons and passing vehicles. 

He refused to drop his pistol when commanded by law enforcement personnel. When Hanson pointed the gun at the officers, deputy Mark Peterson fired three shots at him.

Burnett County District Attorney James Jay Rennicke ruled that Peterson was justified in shooting Hanson, stating that he acted in a reasonable and lawful manner.

According to court documents, Hanson was also sentenced to five years of extended supervision.