By Shereen Siewert
WAUSAU — A 37-year-old Tomah man who was shot by a Wausau Police officer nearly three years ago will spend more than six years in prison after being convicted Monday of three criminal charges.
Adam Radek pleaded guilty in Marathon County Circuit Court to charges of possession of heroin with intent to deliver, possession of a firearm as a felon, and battery. He was sentenced to nine years in prison, with 1,049 days credit for time served in jail awaiting trial.
Radek was shot Aug. 22, 2015 by Officer Shawn Fritsch after repeatedly ignoring commands to show his hands. Frisch fired two shots at Radek after hearing what sounded like a gun being loaded. One shot hit Radek in the back, according to police reports.
After reviewing the case, then-District Attorney Ken Heimerman called Fritsch’s actions reasonable and justified. Fritsch was one of several police officers who responded to a burglary in the 800 block of South First Avenue in Wausau when the shooting happened. An expert from the Oshkosh Police Department and the state Department of Criminal Investigations handled the investigation before turning reports over to Heimerman, who has since retired.
Radek has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1998, with felony convictions for theft, escape, misappropriation of identification to avoid penalty, and possession of a firearm as a felon along with an array of misdemeanor offenses in Monroe, Juneau and Marathon Counties, according to court records.
Officer Frisch gave a victim impact statement to the court during Monday’s sentencing hearing. Circuit Judge Greg Strasser also ordered Radek to spend five years on extended supervision following his release from prison.
