Bio: Gilles, Timothy R. – Self-inflicted Gunshot Wound (29 Jan 1977)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Gilles, Brodhagen, Hussong, Bertz

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 02 Feb 1977

Timothy R. Gilles, 20, Route 1, Dorchester, was pronounced dead at Memorial Hospital in Medford of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head Saturday, January 29, 1977 at 7:40 p.m. Apparently Gilles shot himself after being stopped by Clark County Officer Frank Brodhagen and Dorchester Chief of Police William Hussong on Highway 13, two and one half miles north of Abbotsford, according the the Clark County Sheriff’s Department.

The Colby-Abbotsford Police Department was asked to pick up Gilles in connection with non-felony warrants from Taylor County, and for several other incidents that occurred in the Abbotsford and Colby area recently.

The Gilles car was traveling north on Highway 13 when Officer Brodhagen stopped the Gilles car. Chief Hussong pulled in front of the Gilles stopped vehicle and started to get out of the squad car, when the Gilles car plunged forward, string the Dorchester squad car on its right side, crossing the road, struck a snowbank and came to rest on its right side.

When the officers approached the car they observed Gilles laying across the fronts seat, apparently unconscious, and they immediately called the Abbotsford ambulance.

Sheriff Bertz said it was after Gilles had been taken to the hospital that the officers found the loaded gun with one empty shell in it during the routine accident investigation.

A bullet hole behind Gilles’ right hear with the bullet lodged in his brain was then found by hospital personnel.

Sheriff Bertz said his office is continuing an investigation.