New Berlin man charged after alleged burglary, standoff in West Allis
UPDATED: 07/23/2026 03:25 PM
WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) — A New Berlin man is facing multiple charges after authorities say he broke into a West Allis home while armed with a knife, leading to a standoff with police.
According to court records, 53-year-old Craig D. Surdyk is charged with:
- Armed burglary as a habitual criminality repeater
- Failure to comply with an officer's attempt to take a person into custody as a habitual criminality repeater
- Criminal damage to property involving less than $2,500 in damage as a habitual criminality repeater
- Disorderly conduct while using a dangerous weapon as a habitual criminality repeater
According to the criminal complaint, West Allis police responded shortly before 11:30 a.m. Monday, July 20, to a report of an unlawful entry at a home in the 1500 block of South 76th Street.
A caller reported seeing Surdyk smash a front window before entering the residence.
The first officer on scene observed the broken window and saw Surdyk inside the home, apparently talking to people even though no one else was inside. The officer reported Surdyk appeared to be hallucinating and was armed with a knife.
Police said when officers ordered Surdyk to drop the knife, he instead told them to "kill me" and "shoot me in the head with a shotgun."
According to the complaint, Surdyk later claimed he had a handgun. Moments later, officers heard a loud bang, prompting the activation of the West Allis SWAT team. Investigators later determined Surdyk did not have a gun and the noise came from an object thrown inside the home.
When SWAT officers arrived, Surdyk eventually exited the residence but continued holding the knife. After repeated commands to drop the weapon were ignored, officers fired non-lethal rounds. Police said Surdyk continued advancing while armed, even after being struck several times.
A Taser was then deployed. Investigators say Surdyk attempted to cut the Taser wires with the knife before officers successfully subdued him and took him into custody.
After his arrest, Surdyk allegedly told investigators he had been using methamphetamine.
Court records show Surdyk has a prior felony conviction for robbery of a financial institution in 2015.
He is scheduled to make his initial appearance Thursday.
West Allis police arrest knife-wielding man accused of breaking into home near 76th and Orchard
POSTED: 07/20/2026 03:43 PM
WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- West Allis police say they've taken a knife-wielding suspect into custody after using non-lethal force Monday afternoon, July 20.
"We heard a couple very loud booms. At first, I was like, oh, we've got to get away from the windows," said Christine Elger, who saw it all happen from her home.
Officers responded to the area near 76th and Orchard around 2:20 p.m. after a caller reported a man pounding on his door saying someone was trying to kill him. After the man walked away from the initial caller's home, police say dispatch received a call stating that a man had smashed out the front window of another residence on the block and went inside.
"Police officers are coming up and they’re like, 'get inside, just get inside,' and then there’s another loud boom," said Elgers.
Officers located the suspect armed with a knife, according to the police department, and attempted to speak with him. At that time, police say another window broke, and officers heard a sound they say could have been gunfire; this has not yet been confirmed.
SWAT personnel responded to the scene, and after roughly 40 minutes of commands, police say the suspect exited the home still armed with a knife and ignoring officers' orders.
Police say they ultimately used a Taser and less than lethal munitions to take the man into custody.
Elger says it happened right on her front lawn, and she caught it all on video.
"Even when they were tasing them here, stuff hit the window and I’m like alright, let’s lock the doors," said Elgers. "You know, draw the shades, and I had my grandson stay in the back."
The suspect was treated on scene by the West Allis Fire Department and taken to an area hospital for medical clearance.
An investigation is ongoing.
