Tavis Daniel Wangen

On March 15, 2026 at 9:23 pm Rice County Dispatch received a 911 hang up call from the rural Rice County address of Tavis Daniel Wangen (DOB: 7 /21/1985). There were voices in the background and a child's voice stated "he's being mean." Victim 1 (an adult female who is married to Defendant) called 911 back and stated that there was no emergency and that her child accidentally called 911. On March 18, 2026 Rice County Investigators met with Victim 1 to discuss the events of March 15. Victim 1 advised that she was not honest with dispatch when she called back to say that the 911 call was an accident.

Her child had called 911 because Defendant was assaulting her and in order to calm things down, she was dishonest. Victim 1 reported that on March 15, Defendant was yelling at their children. Victim 1 attempted to intervene, but this escalated Defendant. He began yelling at her and calling her names. She told him that she was going to begin recording his behavior, because recording him previously in these situations would calm him down. However, on the 15th it only escalated things. Victim 1 decided to remove herself from the home.

Defendant did not allow her to leave and blocked the doorway. Victim 1 was able to get into her car but the vehicle became stuck in the snow. Defendant pulled Victim 1 out of the car, threw her into the snow, and then picked her up and carried her back into the house against her will. Inside the house, Defendant physically assaulted Victim 1 by slapping her and throwing her to the ground. Victim 1 told Defendant she would call 911 and he took her cell phone. However, one of their children called 911 as the assault was occurring in front of all three shared children.

Defendant took the cell phone and told dispatch everything was fine. Defendant then forced Victim 1 to call dispatch and say the same thing, which she did. The investigators observed and photographed the injuries to Victim 1's hands. Victim 1 expressed concern because Defendant seems to know where she is all of the time. She did not tell Defendant she was meeting law enforcement and during the meeting Defendant called her cell phone several times. After Victim 1 left the interview, she reported that Defendant was following her in his truck.

Rice County deputies began searching for Defendant. His vehicle was located at 3:15 pm on March 18 traveling on highway 19. A deputy initiated a traffic stop and Defendant was slow to pull over. When deputies approached the vehicle and confirmed Defendant was driving, they advised him he was under arrest. Defendant was on the phone with Victim 1 and made the following statements - "ok so here is what we do… call dad" He asked to have his father bail him out, - "you and me are going to work this out and I'm going to work with you" - "This is for the safety and health of our family" - "Get me out tomorrow, promise me you'll get me out one way or another" - "I need you to come to the jail tomorrow.