Over 30,000 people have seen the video of Kenosha Deputies chasing, and later arresting 62-year-old David Matoska in his 2011 White Dodge Challenger. As the handcuffs were clinking onto his wrists, he cried out “[Sheriff] David Beth is my best friend!” The weeks leading up to this dangerous incident tells a bigger story than an intoxicated man driving drunk with a loaded gun in his car.

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Matoska’s estranged wife filed for divorce on November 17, 2022 in Walworth County. According to her, this enraged Matoska, who began to harass her for the next several weeks. She said he would email her constantly saying things like “death is at your door” and “you are going to burn in hell.” He then began a drinking binge, showing up and calling the woman’s work, daughter, and friends. He told her that nothing would happen to him becuase “[I am] a Matoska and well known and can do anything [I want].” He would park across the street from her, rev his engine at all hours of the day and night, and do “burn outs” in front of her home.

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The woman would find boxes dropped off in front of her home on several occasions containing items of hers or Matoska’s that she didn’t want. Some boxes he dropped off were empty or contained packing peanuts only.

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The woman became afraid for her life when Matoska sent her photos of guns. She was afraid that he was going to kill her.

The gun on the left is a pistol and on the right, a shotgun. Matoska’s wife interpreted theses photos being sent to her as a threat.

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Here are some photo of the boxes Matoska left on her front door:

Some of the boxes contained written messages calling the woman a “bitch.”

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On December 3, Matoska was pulled over in his 2011 Challenger and cited for reckless driving and speeding, (30-35 mph over posted) in Racine County.

The woman said she didn’t have money, and Matoska turned off her cell phone so she couldn’t use it. She said he was controlling, not mentally stable and drank in excess every day. The woman called the Kenosha Sheriff’s Department and Walworth County Sheriff’s Department many times over the last month and Deputies took reports and told Matoska to leave the woman and her daughter alone. He didn’t listen. Finally, on December 5, 2022 the Sheriff’s Department believed they had collected enough evidence to establish probable cause for a stalking arrest. Deputies went to Matoska’s house. They asked about him driving by her house and dropping off items. He first lied to deputies and made up fake people and stories. When police called his bluff, he finally came clean and confessed. Matoska was extremely intoxicated to the point the police took him to the hospital. Once he was cleared, he was booked into the Kenosha County Jail on Felony Stalking, Domestic Abuse/ Disorderly Conduct charges. Deputies noted that they warned him on three separate occasions to leave her alone. This traumatized woman must have felt some relief. Her source of terror was locked up and was facing serious charges. She would soon get some very bad news.

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About 12 hours later, Matoska would appear in court on the felony and misdemeanor charges. Without any explanation, the Kenosha DA’s office declined to issue any criminal charges whatsoever. Matoska was released. The court commissioner was helpless to stop Matoska’s release. He wasn’t provided with any details of the Sheriff’s department’s extensive investigation into the man’s stalking.

Matoska’s wife filed for a restraining order the next day and it was granted and signed by a Kenosha Court Commissioner. It was served on him the very next day and became enforceable.

Two days later, feeling untouchable, after receiving a get out of jail free card by DA Mike Graveley’s Office, Matoska grabbed a gun, got extremely drunk and got into his 2011 Charger.

Town of Wheatland Constable Santelli pulled Matoska over. He called for backup and Kenosha County Sheriff’s Deputies responded. Matoska took off and led Deputies on a high-speed chase with speeds over 100 mph. Sheriff’s Deputies terminated the pursuit becuase he was driving too fast, and they already identified Matoska. Deputy Preston heard the call on his radio and recalled having numerous contacts with Matoska over the last several weeks. He took a proactive approach that may have saved this woman’s life. Preston positioned himself near the woman’s home on a gut instinct. He was right. He then began another chase, as Matoska wouldn’t stop for him either. Matoska drove erratically and placed many lives at risk of serious bodily injury or death. The chase ended in front of the woman’s home and he yelled out her name many times. By then, there were several deputies on scene who had the defendant at gun-point. They suspected he was armed. He threatened a deputy by saying “You don’t want to meet my AR[-15]!” He then told deputies that he is best friends with Sheriff David Beth, former County Executive Jim Kreuser, and his cousin is Rebecca Matoska, clerk of courts.

Reached by email Sheriff Beth told a reporter, “If I met him, I don’t remember him.” Court Clerk Rebecca Matoska told KCE:

“David Matoska is my cousin. I will not comment further on any other level of relationship with this person.

Please be advised that I would not assert myself into any criminal investigation or charging issuances of any family member, member of my office, or any friend or other citizen.

It is not my place as an elected official, nor would it be my place as a general citizen to usurp the authority or wisdom of law enforcement of the District Attorney.”

We happened to see the Court Clerk in the courthouse today and she seemed distraught that her credibility could be doubted by her cousin’s remarks. Althought DA Graveley didn’t give us any reason why he dropped the serious charges five days before the chase, he did tell us that “no one has been in contact on [David Matoska’s] behalf.”

Matoska was summoned to court earlier this week, but he refused to leave his jail-cell. He had a temporary bond set at $100,000. Today, he did come to court and was charged with two counts of felony attempting to flee or elude an officer, felony 1st degree reckless endangering safety, misdemeanor possession of a firearm while intoxicated, violation of temporary restraining order, OWI #1 and several other traffic citations.

ADA Jessica Krejcarek appeared in court today for the DA’s office and asked for a $100,000 cash bond saying Matoska had previously been convicted of violating a restraining order and disorderly conduct.

Kenosha Circuit Court Commissioner Loren “Larry” Keating agreed with the prosecutor and set bail at $100,000 saying “[these] are incredibly serious allegations. We have not just one, but two separate and distinct allegations of fleeing police….he put the public in very grave [danger]…he was intoxicated with a firearm….that, in this court’s opinion is the very definition of a flight risk.”

Matoska then startled to weep and begged Keating for leniency. “Can I have two days to get money? I promise I’ll be back. I’m so sorry” to which Keating answered “no.”

Matoska is due back in court on December 22, 2022 for his preliminary examination.

He faces over 24 years in the Wisconsin Prison System if convicted on all counts.