Armed Man Detained at Wisconsin Capitol

Friday, October 6th, 2023 -- 4:00 PM

(Bob Hague, WRN) A man was detained after showing up with guns at the Wisconsin Capitol.

According to an alert issued by State Capitol Police on Wednesday, 43 year old Joshua ‘Taco’ Pleasnick approached the desk outside the governor's office at about two o'clock Wednesday. Pleasnick was shirtless and accompanied by a leashed dog, and he also had a holstered handgun.

Pleasnick said he would not leave until he saw Governor Evers who was not in the building at the time. Pleasnick was arrested for openly carrying a gun inside the Capitol. A after posting bail at the Dane County Jail, Pleasnick was back at the Capitol at around nine o'clock Wednesday night.

The building was closed at that point, but Pleasnick was carrying a loaded assault rifle and again demanded to see the governor. Madison police said Pleasnick was taken into protective custody and hospitalized.

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