MADISON (WKOW) – State officials released the name of the police officer who fired his gun at Corey Ruiz during a fight with police on July 22. The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Criminal Investigation Division said Officer Kiel Baitinger-Peterson shot Ruiz, who later died. Madison police officers were called to the Marquette neighborhood that day for a report of a person involved in checking parked vehicles and an “alleged attempted robbery,” according to state investigators. Officers located and attempted to contact the person, identified as Ruiz, 38, of Madison. Police said Ruiz fled on a bicycle. At approximately 1:35 p.m., four responding officers contacted Ruiz at the intersection of South Baldwin and Williamson streets. Ruiz either fell or was pulled from his bike by officers, according to MPD Chief John Patterson. At that point, Ruiz became involved in a physical altercation with officers, during which he displayed a fixed-blade knife and injured Officer Baitinger-Peterson, according to investigators. Two other officers attempted to use a Taser on the subject without success. Officer Baitinger-Peterson fired his weapon, striking Ruiz. Investigators said a knife was recovered from the scene. EMS was contacted and measures were taken to save Ruiz’s life, investigators said. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Baitinger-Peterson has 10 years and 10 months of police service. According to online information, he was hired by the city of Madison in February 2017. 27 News found an archived version of the Madison Police Department’s community policing teams webpage. As of July 9, that page listed Baitinger-Peterson as a team member for the Midtown, South and West districts. Hours after the July 22 shooting, Baitinger-Peterson’s name and photo had been removed, but the page still listed many other officers. As of August 10, all officers were removed from the page. An additional officer suffered injuries during the July 22 incident. Both injured officers were treated at a local hospital and have since been released. No other law enforcement personnel or members of the public were injured during the incident. Videos posted online appear to show Ruiz falling to the ground in a struggle with officers and what sounds like three shots fired by Baitinger-Peterson from a standing position. The four responding officers have been placed on administrative leave, per agency policy. After the shooting, demonstrators took to the streets of Madison to protest the use of deadly force in the case. DCI is leading this investigation and is receiving assistance. by a crime response specialist from DCI, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Sun Prairie Police Department. The authorities involved are cooperating fully with DCI during this investigation. DCI continues to review the evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will provide the investigation reports to the Dane County District Attorney’s Office when the investigation concludes.
