Attempted Escape At Racine Prison

Copied!
Racine Correctional Institute
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

There was an unsuccessful prison escape over the weekend at Racine Correctional Institute in Sturtevant. According to a source familiar with the investigation, an inmate had made it over one of many fences outside of the prison. The inmate however encountered a fence that was electrically charged and reportedly was rendered unconscious. Alarms meant to alert correctional staff to such behavior went to ignored for 45 minutes until the inmate was discovered outside the walls of the prison.

Paid Advertisement
Racine Correctional Institute
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

Wisconsin Department of Corrections spokesman, John Beard, confirmed the unsuccessful escape to Kenosha County Eye, but not would not elaborate further because criminal charges are being considered.

Paid Advertisement

.

Paid Advertisement

The law enforcement agency that is conducting the investigation is the Racine County Sheriff’s Office. A public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Paid Advertisement

This is the same prison where a high-ranking public official is alleged to have committed 22 felonies for her role in misconduct and sexual contact with an inmate.

Paid Advertisement

Much of the staff at the prison that has contact with KCE has expressed non-confidence in the prison’s warden, Jason Wells.

Paid Advertisement

This is a breaking story and new information will be shared as it is received.

Paid Advertisement
Warden Jason Wells

Author

Copied!
LATEST NEWS

Kenosha Man Accused of Fleeing Crash, Resisting Officers After Cocaine Discovery

Kenosha, Wis. — A Kenosha man is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after a violent and chaotic incident earlier this week that put officers and the public at risk, according to court records. Kaden J. Gayheart, 23, made his initial appearance Wednesday afternoon before Court Commissioner William Michel II. Michel set Gayheart’s bail at $7,500 cash, which he posted Friday. He is now out of custody pending further proceedings. According to a criminal complaint filed

Read More »

Pleasant Prairie Man Charged with 28 Counts Including Racketeering After Retail Theft Crime Spree, Held on $25,000 Cash Bond

Pleasant Prairie, Wis. — A man already facing numerous retail theft charges in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties is now charged with 28 criminal counts in Kenosha County, including Racketeering under Wisconsin’s RICO statute, following an extensive, organized retail theft operation that endangered workers and defied court orders at every step. Camari O. Russell, 26, was arrested in Lake County, Illinois, and extradited back to Wisconsin to face new charges stemming from repeated thefts at the Pleasant

Read More »
MORE TOP STORIES

Kenosha CNA Accused of Assaulting Elderly Resident at Care Facility

Kenosha, Wis. — A Kenosha woman stands accused of abusing a 73-year-old man at a local care facility where she worked, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kenosha County Circuit Court. Jahnix A. Medina, 27, was charged with one count of physical abuse of an elder person, intentionally causing bodily harm, a Class H felony. If convicted, she faces up to six years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. According to the complaint, officers

Read More »

Maine Man Accused of Violent Robbery in Kenosha; Bail Set at $10,000

Kenosha, Wis. — A Maine man is facing felony charges in Kenosha County after allegedly assaulting a woman and robbing her of a necklace in a violent altercation last fall. On Wednesday, Court Commissioner William Michel II set bail at $10,000 cash for Lewis A. Covington, 32, who is charged with robbery with use of force and substantial battery—both with domestic abuse enhancers. According to the criminal complaint, the incident occurred on October 12, 2024, when

Read More »

Village Administrator Lawyers Up Amid DNR Wetland Investigation

Salem Lakes, Wis. — The Village of Salem Lakes’ top administrator is under scrutiny after the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) launched an investigation into potential illegal wetland disturbances on municipal property. The property in question is zoned C1. Lowland Resource Conservancy (C1) zoning is intended to prevent the destruction of valuable natural resources, including wetlands, shorelands, and areas subject to flooding. This is among the most restrictive zoning in the County. Cassandra Hiller, the

Read More »

Kenosha Alderman Accused of “Playing Cop” Again, Raising Concerns Over Overreach: Video

Kenosha, Wis. – Alderman Rollin Pizzala is facing renewed scrutiny after being spotted once again engaging in actions that appear to be outside the scope of his duties as a city legislator. On Thursday afternoon, a tip-off to Kenosha County Eye (KCE) reported Pizzala actively patrolling the 43rd Avenue neighborhood north of 60th Street, raising concerns among residents about his actions. Pizzala was reportedly “inspecting” properties in the area for code violations, such as property maintenance,

Read More »

Racine Officer Shoots Armed Suspect During Home Invasion: Investigation Underway

Racine, Wis. — An officer with the Racine Police Department shot and injured a suspect during a tense encounter inside a residence Tuesday night following a reported armed home invasion. The incident occurred in the 1100 block of Hamilton Street and has triggered an outside investigation, officials confirmed. According to a news release from the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, Racine officers responded to the scene on April 22 after receiving reports of a home invasion involving

Read More »

Kenosha Man Accused of Strangling Girlfriend, Causing Severe Facial Injury

Kenosha, Wis. — A 56-year-old Kenosha man is facing multiple criminal charges after allegedly assaulting his live-in girlfriend, choking her and striking her in the face hard enough to require stitches and cause temporary vision loss. Allen S. Meyer was charged in Kenosha County Circuit Court with substantial battery, strangulation and suffocation, and disorderly conduct — all with domestic abuse enhancers. The alleged attack occurred on March 21 at Meyer’s upper unit residence on 17th Avenue.

Read More »

Kenosha Woman Charged Again for Stealing Family’s Car While Out on Bail for Doing the Same

Kenosha, Wis. – A 36-year-old Kenosha woman remains in the county jail on a $7,500 cash bail after being charged with stealing her daughter’s car over the weekend—despite already being out on bail for a similar car theft involving her own mother just months earlier. Kristy R. Delaney now faces a total of ten new charges in a case filed Monday, including five felony counts of bail jumping, misdemeanor bail jumping, misdemeanor theft, operating while revoked,

Read More »

Kenosha Woman Accused of Tearing Sister’s Ear in Violent Fight

Kenosha, Wis. — A 23-year-old Kenosha woman is facing felony charges after allegedly assaulting her sister during a domestic dispute, less than two years after a similar case against her was dropped by the previous district attorney’s office. Katie M. Imbrogno has been charged in Kenosha County Circuit Court with one count of Substantial Battery – Domestic Abuse, a Class I felony, and one count of Disorderly Conduct – Domestic Abuse, a Class B misdemeanor. If

Read More »

$50,000 Bail Set for Kenosha Man Accused of Distributing Child Pornography

Kenosha, Wis. — A Kenosha man is being held in the Kenosha County Jail on serious felony charges after investigators say he shared a graphic image involving a young child over social media. Daniel D. Pichardo-Vilchis, 39, was arrested April 16 following an investigation by the Kenosha Police Department and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). He appeared in court last week for an initial appearance, where Court Commissioner William Michel ordered a

Read More »

Kenosha Man Jailed After Additional Child Porn Charges Filed

Kenosha, Wis. — A Kenosha man is facing serious new criminal charges after being re-arrested last week in connection with a growing child pornography case. Hector A. Tot-Cuc, 25, was first charged on March 31, 2025, with two counts of possession of child pornography. He was released on $10,000 cash bail the following day. But on April 16, at 9:40 a.m., Tot-Cuc was taken back into custody after new evidence led prosecutors to file five additional

Read More »
Categories
Archives
Authors

15 Responses

  1. I realize that technology is going to replace most live workers at fast food joints, but we are paying real money for prison guards. Maybe we’d need less guards if we simply increased the voltage at the fences?

  2. Racine County Supervisor Ron Molnar is former head of security at RCI—Something to be considered investigation wise.

    Another issue is how and when the inmate was missing from his housing unit.

    If I lived in one of the houses adjacent to RCI I would be demanding answers from the Sturtevant PD and Town Board.

  3. Why would any inmate want to leave “Club Sturtevant?”

    Background: In DOC medium security means, for inmates, nicer digs and fewer rules and restrictions. Some inmates have trouble with minimum security (such as Kenosha Correctional Center) because there are more rules to follow.

    1. I had to visit there for a class. It’s a very nice country club. Dorms are better than what some college students pay for.

      1. Same here! I was impressed by how much freedom they actually had in their dorms. They have more freedom than what my parents gave me in high school!

  4. Jason Wells and his side kick Julia McLaughlin the security director are the worst. When Jason was the security director he transferred from RYOCF because ongoing investigations there. Nobody knew who he was, and was attempting to shift things to run like RYOCF. He then brought his side kick Julia who was a security supervisor at RYOCF, and became a unit manager. When she was unit manager she would go out of her way to get staff in trouble, and if something didn’t go planned would go straight to Wells office. They’re still on probation I believe for their positions. If the top 3 and other officers, and supervisors got fired from Columbia Correctional Institution, they should as well.

  5. What the article didn’t mention is that the fog was thick and staff were alerted but could not see when they checked it out.

    1. In that case RCI records will show a ‘fog alert’ was in place with officer escort required for inmate movement.
      If they had a report of an offender missing was a lock down called?

    1. Quite likely Tony Evers is clueless regarding how things are run.
      Like Joe Biden Tony only gets told nice things before being tucked into bed each afternoon.

    2. Lol. Post Walker’s ACT 10 staffing levels and moral are horrendous. But keep believing “it’s working Wisconsin”. And there was also an escape attempt from RCI during Scooter’s term.

  6. Honestly an investigation need to be done on how the warden & security Director is running RCI INTO THE GROUND. a black cloud is over the whole institution

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

LATEST NEWS
Categories
Archives
Authors

Subscribe to updates

Get notified of new articles. We'll never share your email address.