Man Tells Police 'Just Shoot Me' During 6th OWI Arrest

Oak Creek police responded to a report of a car in a field last week to find a bizarre scene involving a man standing in the middle of the road begging to be shot.

Gerald Vanderhoef, 44 of Hartford, was charged Friday with his sixth operating while intoxicated offense.

Court documents say the report of a car in a field at South Chicago Road and East Ryan Road in Oak Creek came in on July 24 just after 2 a.m.

Upon arriving at the scene, an officer discovered a pick-up truck about 50 feet off the roadway and a downed traffic control signal.  

She also discovered Vanderhoef standing in the middle of the roadway yelling, “just shoot me” over and over, the court documents say. 

The officer tried to calm Vanderhoef down, but he wouldn’t cooperate and said “just shoot me in the head,” the criminal complaint says. At one point, Vanderhoef stuffed his hands in his pockets and told the officer he had a gun and to shoot him.

The man continued to be uncooperative, so once back-up arrived, police Tasered the man to subdue him, court documents say.

Following his arrest, police searched Vanderhoef’s car and found a crack pipe, according to the court documents.

A witness told police he saw the truck speed through a red light, continue through the intersection and then fail to navigate a turn leaving the roadway. The driver then exited the car and walked to the roadway.

Vanderhoef was transported to a local hospital for a blood test to determine his blood alcohol content.

Vanderhoef has five prior operating while intoxicated convictions dating back to 1989.

He could face up to six years imprisonment, or $10,000 in fines, or both, if convicted.

Vanderhoef is currently in police custody and due in court for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 5.