OCONTO – A rifle was fired from a house near two Oconto County deputies seeking to interview a man inside about a violent domestic assault, according to a criminal complaint.

Joshua B. Steadman, 27, of Suring, came out of the home a short time later and answered questions, but struggled when he was being placed under arrest, causing minor injuries to the officers, the complaint says.

Steadman faces six felony and five misdemeanor charges over the incidents, which occurred in the early morning hours Wednesday.

According to the complaint:

Steadman’s wife told a deputy she left their home, located about 10 miles north of Suring in the town of Breed, to find him after he didn’t return home after going to a friend’s the evening before. She found Steadman outside a bar in Suring. He appeared intoxicated and became upset that she was looking for him.

She returned home, and heard Steadman turn into the driveway. He quickly got out, shoved her into the back of another vehicle and slapped her in the side of the head. She was able to get out, but he pushed onto the ground and choked her for several minutes.

After he let her up, Steadman smashed his head through the window in the front door of the home, then grabbed her again and dragged her toward his truck. They fell when he tripped on a fire ring in the yard, and he started choking her again.

Steadman stopped when he saw lights come on in the house, as her two children were awakened. They went inside, where she was pushed down on top of a couch.

After she told Steadman to leave, he went to a vehicle in the yard, and struck a rear window with his fist, breaking the glass. He then drove off.

She and the children went to the home of a relative, who reported the episode shortly before 2 a.m.

Lt. Matt Morrissey and Deputy Cullan Morrissey – who are father and son – went to Steadman’s parents’ home about three miles southwest of Suring `in the town of How and found his truck in the driveway.

Steadman wouldn’t open the door and yelled at them to leave. They continued to try to get Steadman to come outside when they heard him yell from a second-floor window: “This is your final f------ warning to leave.”

Deputy Morrissey then heard a screen door rip and saw a hunting rifle protrude from the window. The two officers took cover on the porch and continued to ask Steadman to come out.

One shot was fired, landing about 24 feet from the officers.

A short time later, Steadman came out to the porch, unarmed. He answered questions while drinking a beer.

Steadman said he didn’t choke or hit his wife but admitted head-butting the storm door window and breaking the rear window of the car.

When Lt. Morrissey told Steadman he was being arrested, he tried to run back into the house. The officers took him down, and he wrestled with them for a minute or two before they could handcuff him.

Lt. Morrissey injured his left wrist in the altercation, while Deputy Morrissey’s eye was hit by Steadman’s head.

Police found a .30-06 rifle. An empty cartridge remained in the chamber and two other bullets were in the internal magazine.

For the domestic incident at his home, Steadman was charged with first degree recklessly endangering safety, strangulation and suffocation, battery, and disorderly conduct.

Over the incident at his parents' house, Steadman was charged with two counts of first degree recklessly endangering safety, two counts of battery to a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer, possession of a firearm while intoxicated and disorderly conduct-use of a dangerous weapon.

First degree recklessly endangering safety carries a maximum sentence of 12 ½ years, while the strangulation and battery to officer charges are each punishable by up to six years in prison.

Steadman made his initial appearance in court Thursday. Judge Jay Conley set his bond at $150,000 cash. His next court appearance is set for Oct. 17.

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Contact Kent Tempus at (920) 431-8226 or ktempus@gannett.com.