The Kenosha County Eye received two tips recently. We were told that David Beth, the Kenosha County Sheriff was involved in at least two incidents at Country Thunder that diminished what was left of his integrity. We investigated and learned that the information was true and accurate. We obtained the body-camera footage from other deputies (The Sheriff doesn’t wear a body camera). It is now clear why Beth opposed body cams for years.
Excessive Force Complaint Against Allegedly Intoxicated Sheriff
On July 15, 2021 at about 8:45pm, Sheriff Beth is accused of using excessive force against a group of young women. Beth, who was not dressed as a law enforcement officer, wearing a black “DARE” hoodie and a VIP backstage pass, was driving around on a 4-wheeler. He then grabbed at least two women and threw them to the ground per their statements. One of the witnesses recounted the incident on another deputy’s body camera. Beth makes an appearance on the video and yells at the women speaking to police.
A man who said he wasn’t drinking and a female witness claimed that the Sheriff was intoxicated after the Sheriff yelled “Those two need to go!”
A Sergeant arrived on scene to handle the incident and calm down the Sheriff who was shouting and visibly enraged to have his authority questioned by the young women. The Sgt. said the following about Sheriff Beth on body cam:
“He (Sheriff David Beth) was all wound up. He needs to get out of here. He wanted them ejected, and ticketed, and arrested, and all this bullshit. So, we’re going to write the one girl, who’s 18, or 19 a ticket for underage. That’s it. I’m not kicking the rest out. They’re totally fine and they don’t even know why we’re messing with them.” He later says “We were out here with 122 and he dropped her off”. 122 is the badge number and call sign for Sheriff David Beth.
An Illinois woman, Madison George was just 4 months shy of her 21st birthday and was cited for underage drinking.
Reached by phone George told the KCE that Beth was very unprofessional and screamed at her and others. She told us her friend who she ran into at Country Thunder, was intoxicated and she was trying to bring her to her parents’ camp site. Beth then drove by on his four-wheeler and jumped off. He then told the group that the younger intoxicated girl needed to “get on (his four-wheeler).” George was concerned that he wasn’t a real police officer. He refused to show her his badge. He then grabbed an uninvolved woman and the younger intoxicated girl and pushed them all to the ground, one of them hitting her head, George said. George also told us that he was short-tempered and seemed extremely intoxicated. She said that a 50 year old woman on the four-wheeler with Beth whispered in George’s ear “Just do what he says. He’s the Sheriff.” George said this woman seemed embarrassed by the Sheriff’s actions.
George was very upset with Beth’s behavior and really didn’t believe he was a police officer due to his aggression. She was scared her friends were being taken by a random man.
Later in this encounter another deputy told George that he didn’t think she deserved a ticket, but said he had to as the Sheriff ordered him. George said she will be asking an attorney if she has options in this matter. She said as a college student, she really didn’t have the time to contest the citation, so her and her friends split the cost.
Sheriff Damaged Vehicle While Operating Front-End Loader
Earlier that same day at about 3:50pm, the Sheriff was driving a front-end loader in a muddy area of country thunder. Then, in front of dozens of witnesses and a Sheriff’s Sergeant, Beth struck a black SUV that belonged to an Illinois man. The Sgt. is heard on body-cam saying, “The Sheriff just hit that guy!”
The man got out of his car and yelled for Beth to get out of the front-end loader. He was upset that his expensive SUV was damaged and the Sheriff responded with “Shut the fuck up!” This was witnessed by others that were there. We did make contact on the phone with an Illinois man who wanted us to only share only his first name, Joseph said it was clearly the Sheriff’s fault. His girlfriend, Kyle heard the Sheriff’s profanity also. Beth is shown on body-cam footage telling a deputy to “write it up!” and then storming away in an apparent temper-tantrum.
Marc Rozak, the driver of the SUV, reached by phone, was furious to learn that the man who used profanity was the Sheriff. Rozak, who says he supports the police, said “That behavior isn’t OK for anyone let alone the Sheriff” “He was ‘double bubbling’. He was driving his personal front-end loader registered to his person. That’s a conflict. Was he working for the event, or as the Sheriff?”
Rozak was told the Beth was a “commander” and Rozak demanded that a secondary law enforcement department take the report, but Beth told the deputy to do it anyway. The Sheriff’s department and other departments usually handle each other’s motor vehicle crash reports so there is no conflict. The Sheriff wouldn’t allow it, Rozak said. Beth also told the Deputy that he wanted to personally review the report before it was submitted. Rozak received a call the next day from the deputy. She told him that she was ordered to keep the report “vague” and she would tell him her feelings in 18 months when the Sheriff retires.
Rozak said his vehicle will need “thousands” to repair the damage, but Beth’s personal insurance company, Rural Community Insurance wouldn’t be paying for it.
Reading the police report, it appears the deputy was ordered to lie on the report. The report shows Rozak being at fault.
You can view all of the body cam Below.
Opinion: Like the 5 County Board members who proposed body-cams last year, we were upset that the Sheriff didn’t support body-cams. He told CBS58 he didn’t support them in 2015. He echoed this opposition in 2020. We know now why. His behavior is abhorrent. We contacted the Sheriff several times to get his side of this story. He didn’t respond or apologize to anyone involved. David Beth is an egotistical, arrogant boob. It appears that Beth’s actions may rise to the level of needing an investigation from another law enforcement agency for possible corruption. If he was actually drunk while making arrests and carrying a gun, he should be charged criminally. He thinks the law doesn’t apply to him. Be on the look-out. There is a candidate running to replace him that said he wants to “continue Beth’s legacy.” If that is truly what Ray Rowe wants to do, he can forget about the campaign.
D/C Arrest Body-Cam
Sheriff-Involved Accident
12 Responses
So glad that we have the KCE to report on these kinds of incidents that the “local” rag ignores.
lol they are all rags…
So he basically was drunk and hit a guy’s truck? Then the incident with the woman? Yeah, she has options for sure. They both should be getting lawyers (the woman and the guy whose truck was hit).
david beth has been a scumbag since the d.a.r.e days at Randall grade school (early 90’s)
Once again the KCE turns over the stones to show us what is underneath. Kenosha has not had that type of media for decades. Its reporting will only make our community better. That shopper called the Kenosha News has enabled the corruption in Kenosha to grow and intensify. Until now, no local media had the courage to expose these problems.
Is Beth on the payroll of Country Thunder? That needs to be investigated.
Sounds to me like Sherriff Beth was actively looking for young girls that were intoxicated enough that he could molest them or even rape them. I bet he’s molested or raped A LOT of young girls at these festivals…
To begin with I pray the young girl recovers. She may be unconscious due to Beth knocking her to ground. What is it with the God like image cops believe themselves to be??? They break ALL LAWS LIE CORRUPT yet expect others to be law abiding. It is sickening at best. Get rid of this scab he is rotten and shows it.
Eh…..that might be going a little far there.
To begin with I pray the young girl recovers. She may be unconscious due to Beth knocking her to ground. What is it with the God like image cops believe themselves to be??? They break ALL LAWS LIE CORRUPT yet expect others to be law abiding. It is sickening at best. Get rid of this scab he is rotten and shows it.
I find it interesting the News didn’t report on something like this when they are supposedly more of a far-left newspaper (meaning they are more for BLM-type causes and less for police, etc).
In other words, it seems apparent they just don’t report news no matter who it’s from…..which is even worse than taking just one side and not reporting the other.
So… who is the best candidate for Kenosha County Sheriff ? Who is the person who is most likely to be honorable and to impart that trait onto the other members of the Department…