Grant County, WI – Tensions flared at O’Leary’s Lake early Tuesday morning when a confrontation over fishing territory turned alarming as a Dubuque resident allegedly brandished a firearm.
Payton L. Walker, aged 28, was apprehended and faces charges of disorderly conduct following the altercation.
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office reported that at approximately 8:17 AM on June 10, 2025, a 911 call was placed by an angler at O’Leary’s Lake, situated off Eagle Point Road in the Town of Jamestown. The caller expressed concern that an individual had threatened him with a handgun due to a disagreement over a fishing spot.
Responding to the scene, Grant County Sheriff’s Deputies, aided by officers from Jo Daviess County, Illinois, and the East Dubuque Police Department, discovered that two fishermen had become embroiled in a verbal dispute after tangling their fishing lines. During this exchange, Walker reportedly exhibited a handgun.
Investigators established that Walker did not aim the weapon at anyone, and no injuries were reported as a result of the incident. Following the investigation,
Walker was arrested and taken to the Grant County Jail, where he was booked for one count of disorderly conduct. He has since managed to post bond and has been released.
In accordance with Wisconsin Statute §950.04, the identities of victims and witnesses involved in the incident are being withheld. All individuals arrested or referred for charges by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, with an arrest indicating only that probable cause exists for formal charges.
