Breaking News
Counselor on Leave Amid Allegations at Westosha Central High School; Parents Demand Transparency
Sale, Lakes, Wis. — A counselor at Westosha Central High School is currently on leave, and parents are once again demanding transparency from school leadership. Kenosha County Eye has confirmed through multiple sources that the counselor is accused of inappropriate communication with a student. According to individuals familiar with the situation, the counselor allegedly used his personal cellphone to communicate with a female student and is also believed to have given her a ride to school on at least one
Counselor on Leave Amid Allegations at Westosha Central High School; Parents Demand Transparency
Sale, Lakes, Wis. — A counselor at Westosha Central High School is currently on leave, and parents are once again demanding transparency from school leadership. Kenosha County Eye has confirmed through multiple sources that the counselor is accused of inappropriate communication with a student. According to individuals familiar with the situation, the counselor allegedly used his personal cellphone to communicate with a female student and is also believed to have given her a ride to school on at least one occasion. The school district has not confirmed these details. Kenosha County Eye is not naming the counselor at this time, unless he or she resigns, is terminated, or is formally disciplined. Neither the Sheriff’s Department, no the Kenosha Police Department have any ongoing criminal investigations regarding this counselor. District Administrator
Kenosha Cop Sues City, Claims Anti-Gay Discrimination Over Missed Promotion
Kenosha, Wis. — A longtime Kenosha police officer who was once accused—but never charged—of rape has filed a federal lawsuit claiming the city and its police chiefs passed him over for promotion because he is gay. Officer Pep Moretti, who has worked for the Kenosha Police Department since 2009, filed the Title VII discrimination lawsuit in late March against the City of Kenosha, former Chief Eric Larsen, and current Chief Patrick Patton. In his complaint, Moretti alleges he was the top-ranked candidate for a sergeant position but was intentionally skipped over in 2022 and 2023 while lower-ranked and allegedly heterosexual officers were promoted instead. The city has not yet been served with the lawsuit and has not filed a response. Moretti previously filed a discrimination complaint with the Wisconsin Equal
Wilmot High School Quiz on Trump Tariffs Draws Parental Criticism
Kenosha, Wis. — Some Wilmot Union High School parents are speaking out this week, accusing a 10th grade World History teacher of pushing a politically biased message in the classroom. The criticism centers on a quiz that students were given concerning the economic impacts of former President Donald Trump’s tariff policies — a quiz many say unfairly portrays Trump in a negative light. The assignment, titled “The Consequences of Black Friday,” includes four questions directly targeting Trump’s approach to international trade: . Critics say the assignment offers no counterpoint or supportive view of the Trump administration’s economic strategy and serves more as political commentary than historical instruction. Kenosha County Eye contacted Wilmot High School Administrator Michael Plourde for comment, but he did not respond. However, Principal Rob Kreil did address
Kenosha Law Enforcement Agencies Diverge on Radio Dispatch Policy Changes
Kenosha, Wis. — A recent shift in radio dispatch protocols by the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office has sparked discussion among local law enforcement leaders, with the Kenosha Police Department opting not to follow suit. As of April 1, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office has implemented a revised dispatch policy for non-emergency and low-priority calls. The change, outlined in a March 11 email by Captain Eric Klinkhammer, is aimed at enhancing privacy and reducing radio clutter while maintaining officer safety. Under the new procedure, dispatchers notify deputies of non-priority calls via radio and direct them to review call details on their in-car Mobile Data Computers (MDCs). Deputies then acknowledge the call over the air and respond accordingly. High-priority calls—classified as Priority 1 or 2—continue to be dispatched with full details over
Kenosha Cop Sues City, Claims Anti-Gay Discrimination Over Missed Promotion
Kenosha, Wis. — A longtime Kenosha police officer who was once accused—but never charged—of rape has filed a federal lawsuit claiming the city and its police chiefs passed him over for promotion because he is gay. Officer Pep Moretti, who has worked for the Kenosha Police Department since 2009, filed the Title VII discrimination lawsuit in late March against the City of Kenosha, former Chief Eric Larsen, and current Chief Patrick Patton. In his complaint, Moretti alleges he was the top-ranked candidate for a sergeant position but was intentionally skipped over in 2022 and 2023 while lower-ranked and allegedly heterosexual officers were promoted instead. The city has not yet been served with the lawsuit and has not filed a response. Moretti previously filed a discrimination complaint with the Wisconsin Equal
Wilmot High School Quiz on Trump Tariffs Draws Parental Criticism
Kenosha, Wis. — Some Wilmot Union High School parents are speaking out this week, accusing a 10th grade World History teacher of pushing a politically biased message in the classroom. The criticism centers on a quiz that students were given concerning the economic impacts of former President Donald Trump’s tariff policies — a quiz many say unfairly portrays Trump in a negative light. The assignment, titled “The Consequences of Black Friday,” includes four questions directly targeting Trump’s approach to international trade: . Critics say the assignment offers no counterpoint or supportive view of the Trump administration’s economic strategy and serves more as political commentary than historical instruction. Kenosha County Eye contacted Wilmot High School Administrator Michael Plourde for comment, but he did not respond. However, Principal Rob Kreil did address
Kenosha Law Enforcement Agencies Diverge on Radio Dispatch Policy Changes
Kenosha, Wis. — A recent shift in radio dispatch protocols by the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office has sparked discussion among local law enforcement leaders, with the Kenosha Police Department opting not to follow suit. As of April 1, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office has implemented a revised dispatch policy for non-emergency and low-priority calls. The change, outlined in a March 11 email by Captain Eric Klinkhammer, is aimed at enhancing privacy and reducing radio clutter while maintaining officer safety. Under the new procedure, dispatchers notify deputies of non-priority calls via radio and direct them to review call details on their in-car Mobile Data Computers (MDCs). Deputies then acknowledge the call over the air and respond accordingly. High-priority calls—classified as Priority 1 or 2—continue to be dispatched with full details over
Convicted Child Predator Extradited to Kenosha for New Sexual Assault Charge
Kenosha, Wis. — A Racine County man already serving 30 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl was extradited to Kenosha County this week to face a new charge involving a different child victim. Seth C. Beining, 23, of Wilmot, is now charged in Kenosha County with first-degree sexual assault of a child under 13. According to the criminal complaint, Beining allegedly assaulted an 11-year-old girl in June 2022 while the two were alone in a living room at a residence in the Village of Salem Lakes. The girl told investigators that Beining began to sexually assaulted her. She immediately got up and moved to a different part of the room. When she did so, Beining asked her, “Are you okay?” She responded, “Yeah,” but said she
Kenosha County Scanner Admin Harasses Young Woman for Sharing Post, Reigniting Concerns Over His Criminal Past
Kenosha, Wis. — A 21-year-old Kenosha County woman says she is being harassed by a convicted serial arsonist after sharing one of his Facebook posts in a community thread. The man at the center of the controversy, 48-year-old Allen M. Dunski, Jr, co-manages the Kenosha County Scanner Facebook page with his partner John Broemelkamp. The page charges subscribers $4.99 per month to view posts, which often summarize local police and fire activity. Dunski has previously claimed—without citing any legal authority—that the details of such reports are his intellectual property and that sharing them is illegal. According to the woman, whom Kenosha County Eye is identifying as “Madison” to protect her privacy, the situation began when she tried to help someone in her community. “Recently, a concerned citizen asked what had
Three Kenosha Police Officers Honored With Life Saving Awards After Reviving Unresponsive Man
Kenosha, Wis. — Three Kenosha Police Department officers were recognized Tuesday morning for their heroic actions that saved a man’s life during a critical medical emergency earlier this year. Officers Kyle Toppel, Charles Lyons, and Matthew Lovell were each presented with the department’s Life Saving Award during the Kenosha Police and Fire Commission meeting today. Their swift and coordinated response on February 15, 2025, helped resuscitate a 59-year-old man who was found unresponsive and not breathing at a home in the 2600 block of 63rd Street. According to commendations submitted by Sergeant Anthony Barriere, the three officers were dispatched to the scene shortly after the emergency call was received. Upon arrival, Officer Lovell retrieved an automated external defibrillator (AED) from his squad car. Officer Toppel entered the home and confirmed
High-Speed Chase Ends in Rollover Crash, Injuries and Felony Charges for Kenosha Man
Kenosha, Wis. — A Kenosha man with a lengthy criminal record is facing 14 new criminal charges, including multiple counts of reckless injury and endangerment, after he allegedly led police on a dangerous, high-speed chase through city streets Friday evening, causing a rollover crash that seriously injured at least two passengers. Joshua J. McCarthy, 38, appeared in court Monday afternoon where a court commissioner set his cash bail T $75,000. McCarthy is on a probation hold, so he isn’t going anywhere even if he can come up with the cash. He is scheduled to return to court later this month for a preliminary hearing. McCarthy is charged with: Taken together, if convicted on all counts with all applicable penalty enhancers, McCarthy faces up to 190 years and 6 months in
Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested in Domestic Incident in Somers
Somers, Wis. — A Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy is under internal investigation after he was arrested earlier this month for allegedly assaulting his wife during an alleged drunken domestic dispute at their home. According to law enforcement records obtained by Kenosha County Eye, Kenosha County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a Somers residence around 10:26 p.m. on April 4, 2025, for a welfare check. Deputies arrived to find what they determined to be a physical domestic disturbance. The suspect, 41-year-old Emil J. Ortiz, was taken into custody and booked into the Kenosha County Jail at approximately 1:33 a.m. on April 5. Ortiz is currently employed as a deputy with the Racine County Sheriff’s Office. He graduated from the police academy in 2018. Sources familiar with the incident told KCE that
Receptionist Resigned Amid Allegations of Attendance Record Tampering, District Records Show
Kenosha, Wis. — A receptionist at Indian Trail High School and Academy resigned last month while under investigation for improperly altering student attendance records, according to newly released internal documents from the Kenosha Unified School District. Danielle Nixon, who worked at the school’s front desk and had access to pupil databases, left her position on March 7, 2025, just days after being questioned about potentially unauthorized modifications to student absences. The district’s records, obtained by Kenosha County Eye through a public records request, confirm Nixon’s resignation came in the midst of an ongoing internal probe. A key piece of evidence is a signed written statement dated January 29, 2025, submitted by the school’s head secretary. In the memo, the head secretary described observing a student leave school early without an
Flag Protest Sparks Vandalism Probe in Kenosha Neighborhood — But No Charges Filed
Kenosha, Wis. — A neighborhood quarrel over a politically inverted American flag spiraled into a month-long police investigation in the St. Peter’s Park neighborhood — and ended with no arrests, no charges, and rising tensions between residents. The dispute began early on March 1, when a couple living on 22nd Street, just behind St. Peter’s Catholic Church on 30th Avenue, called police to report that both of their vehicles had been vandalized. Windshield wipers were bent and air valves on the tires had been pinched. A typed, anonymous letter was left under one wiper. “So you were warned about disrespecting the flag,” it read. “This is the first of several retaliations… you hate America and support communism… move to California!” The notes contained spelling errors. The couple provided a second
Retail Theft Blitz Nets Six Arrests at Pleasant Prairie Shopping Centers
Pleasant Prairie, Wis. — A sweeping retail theft blitz targeting organized shoplifting operations at two major Pleasant Prairie shopping centers has led to six arrests and 14 criminal charges, authorities announced this week. The operation, coordinated by the Pleasant Prairie Police Department with support from regional and federal partners, focused on the Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets and the Shoppes at Prairie Ridge. Charges include felony and misdemeanor retail theft, felony possession of anti-theft removal devices, possession of THC, and resisting or obstructing an officer. Police say additional merchandise was recovered from stores not officially involved in the sting—those retailers have opted to pursue charges independently. “This operation is a strong demonstration of our collective commitment to addressing the rise in organized retail theft that continues to impact businesses and community
Kenosha Prosecutor Terminated After String Of Misconduct Allegations
Kenosha, Wis. — Assistant District Attorney Paul Lasswell was terminated last week after a series of troubling incidents in and out of the courtroom, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. Lasswell had been a licensed attorney for less than three months. The Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office would not confirm the termination but did acknowledge that Lasswell is no longer employed there. In a brief statement, the office said it could not comment further, citing personnel confidentiality. Lasswell’s departure follows several recent allegations of unprofessional and erratic conduct. In one courtroom episode, he allegedly stormed out of the courtroom during a trial, leading to a mistrial. In another, he was reportedly screaming at a pro-se criminal defendant in such a disruptive manner that courthouse deputies had to intervene.
Convicted Child Predator Extradited to Kenosha for New Sexual Assault Charge
Kenosha, Wis. — A Racine County man already serving 30 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl was extradited to Kenosha County
Kenosha County Scanner Admin Harasses Young Woman for Sharing Post, Reigniting Concerns Over His Criminal Past
Kenosha, Wis. — A 21-year-old Kenosha County woman says she is being harassed by a convicted serial arsonist after sharing one of his Facebook posts
Three Kenosha Police Officers Honored With Life Saving Awards After Reviving Unresponsive Man
Kenosha, Wis. — Three Kenosha Police Department officers were recognized Tuesday morning for their heroic actions that saved a man’s life during a critical medical
High-Speed Chase Ends in Rollover Crash, Injuries and Felony Charges for Kenosha Man
Kenosha, Wis. — A Kenosha man with a lengthy criminal record is facing 14 new criminal charges, including multiple counts of reckless injury and endangerment,
Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested in Domestic Incident in Somers
Somers, Wis. — A Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy is under internal investigation after he was arrested earlier this month for allegedly assaulting his wife during
Receptionist Resigned Amid Allegations of Attendance Record Tampering, District Records Show
Kenosha, Wis. — A receptionist at Indian Trail High School and Academy resigned last month while under investigation for improperly altering student attendance records, according
Flag Protest Sparks Vandalism Probe in Kenosha Neighborhood — But No Charges Filed
Kenosha, Wis. — A neighborhood quarrel over a politically inverted American flag spiraled into a month-long police investigation in the St. Peter’s Park neighborhood —
Retail Theft Blitz Nets Six Arrests at Pleasant Prairie Shopping Centers
Pleasant Prairie, Wis. — A sweeping retail theft blitz targeting organized shoplifting operations at two major Pleasant Prairie shopping centers has led to six arrests
Kenosha Prosecutor Terminated After String Of Misconduct Allegations
Kenosha, Wis. — Assistant District Attorney Paul Lasswell was terminated last week after a series of troubling incidents in and out of the courtroom, according
Kenosha Woman Charged With Exposing Teen To Explicit Images
Kenosha, Wis. — A 24-year-old Kenosha woman was charged this week with exposing a 16-year-old boy to sexually explicit images and attempting to mislead police
Salem Lakes Woman Charged In Knife Attack On Child’s Father
Salem Lakes, Wis. — A 19-year-old woman from Salem Lakes is facing felony charges after allegedly stabbing the father of her child during a domestic
Public Brewing Company Hosts Customer Appreciation Night – Live Music, Drink Specials, New Food Items, And Free Brewery Tours
Kenosha, Wis. –As a thank you to the Kenosha community who have supported Public Brewing Company through the years, this is a night to celebrate
