Man accused of firing crossbow at pedestrians

EAU CLAIRE — Arraignment has been set for a man authorities say fired a crossbow bolt at two people.

Robert Willi, 35, faces charges of first degree recklessly endangering safety and disorderly conduct. The case dates to this past March.

According to the criminal complaint, officers responded to the 500 block of Maple Street after a caller reported Willi had fired a crossbow at them. The people said they were approaching their building when they saw Willi take aim from a second story window. The bolt struck the ground a few feet in front of them.

Willi had previously suggested he would shoot at people in a text message shown to the officers. That message asked the recipients to not walk through his driveway because his crossbow doesn’t shoot straight.

Willi refused to answer the door when officers arrived at his apartment, forcing them to get a warrant to enter. When they did, Willi attempted to escape out the window, but was arrested when he reached the ground.

The court has not yet appointed an attorney to represent Willi. A report indicated more than 100 contacts with prospective public defense attorneys had been made in an effort to have one represent him.

That hasn’t stopped proceedings, though, with Willi filing a not guilty plea form with the court. He has also acted as his own attorney at times, requesting modification of his release conditions and filing a request to appear remotely.

The latter justified the request by saying Willi didn’t feel “the court or my time to attend in person is a financially responsible way of proceeding.”

The request was rejected.