Vehicles hit by gun fire in Dane County

COTTAGE GROVE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Three men were arrested were arrested on Saturday, April 17, for second-degree recklessly endangering safety after a caller contacted Wisconsin State Patrol believing his windows had been "shot out."

Authorities say at approximately 2:15 pm CT. Saturday, the Wisconsin State Patrol took a report from a caller who believed the windows to his vehicle had been struck by bullet while driving on the interstate.

The caller was traveling on interstate I90 near mile marker 146 when windows to his vehicle were shattered by gunfire.

Dane County deputies, along with Madison police and McFarland police, responded to the area of I90 and US Highway 12/18 to help locate the cause of what possibly damaged the caller’s vehicle.

During this time two more callers reported damage to their vehicles which they believed to be gun shots as well. 

As deputies and officers continued to canvas the area they were able to narrow their search to an area in the Town of Cottage Grove.  Deputies located three individuals who had been shooting target practice of various caliber at 3067 Vilas Rd. 

The investigation unveiled the subjects had been shooting at targets, but the interstate was only a few hundred yards behind the targets.

Errant rounds had made their way to the interstate causing the damage to the passing vehicles.

Bryan R. Spangler, age 44 of Cottage Grove, Jon D. Zimmerman, age 50 of Oak Creek and Jeffrey Zimmerman, age 48 of Wabasha were all arrested on charges of second-degree recklessly endangering safety and booked into the Dane County Jail.

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident. 

If you were traveling on I90 in the area and time of this incident and believe you sustained damage from gun fire, please contact the Dane County Communications Center non-emergency line at (608) 255-2345.