Body-camera footage was released to KCE today from the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department.
A 20-year-old Kenosha man who terrorized 16 people inside of a Somers Kwik Trip is headed to prison after his sentencing last month. On June 13, 2022 Jonathan J. Petersen entered the gas station with a knife and a fake rifle. The 16 people inside, however, believed the rifle was very real. Most of them feared for their lives. Some hid in a walk-in cooler, and others, in an office. The intended victim, was a woman who had rejected Petersen’s romantic advances months before. He then began to stalk her. On April 18, 2022, she was granted a restraining order against Petersen. For at least two months, Petersen planned this horrendous event.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
At last month’s hearing, an agreement was reached between the State of Wisconsin and Petersen. Petersen was initially charged with 16 counts of terrorist threats, – one for each person in the store, and violation of a temporary restraining order – both with the use of a dangerous weapon enhancers. Petersen faced more than 100 years in prison. According to the agreement, Petersen plead guilty today to stalking, two counts of making terrorist threats, and false imprisonment, all with use of a dangerous weapon enhancers. The prosecution agreed to recommend prison, but not any specific length.
The woman addressed the court first, saying “Your honor, for the past year, I’ve been trying to get far away from the defendant, Jonathan Petersen. No matter what I’ve done, he has tracked me down. He has caused me great anxiety. Finally, he’s been locked up and I’ve got a little bit of peace, knowing that he can’t come looking for me.” She then asked the judge to send Petersen to prison.
Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Anthony Milisauskas stressed just how serious the crimes were. “There were two weapons. There was a knife, and there was a rifle. And I know the rifle was kinda, the term “fake”, but unfortunately for the victims, and the people at the gas station, they had no clue that this was a fake rifle….Every day you turn on the news and you see a mass shooting…What did these poor people think when he walked into Kwik Trip with a something that looked like a rifle and a knife?…They were scared for their lives. He pointed the gun at her the entire time he spoke to her, now that’s terror…. The terror that he inflicted on the victims is way too serious here, and I’m not gonna take a chance for the community.” With that, he sentenced Petersen to 5.5 years in prison and 6 years of extended supervision.
Both defense attorney Patrick Cafferty and Petersen both were very happy with the outcome of the potentially fatal incident. They seem to realize how lucky Petersen is to be alive. According to reports, the first two deputies to arrive, went into the gas station alone. Sergeant Sanchez and Deputy Coultrip, who has since been promoted to Sergeant, thought the gun was real and entered the gas station with their rifles. They shouted commands at Petersen but he didn’t comply. Deputy Coultrip switched from his rifle to his taser as Sergeant Sanchez kept lethal cover on the suspect. Deputy Coultrip then deployed his taser, but it didn’t make contact due to loose clothing. The second time was successful. Sgt. Sanchez then kicked the knife away and Petersen was taken into custody and handcuffed. Everyone escaped the incident alive and unharmed, at least physically, due to theses two deputies. This isn’t the first time Deputy Coultrip saved a life. He saved a man who fell through the ice in 2020. Sergeant Sanchez is a former Marine and on the department’s SWAT team. Sheriff David Zoerner was made aware of the sentencing today and Petersen’s statements thanking his deputies for saving his life. Even though he was telling the deputies to kill him, that is the last thing they wanted to do according to the Sheriff.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
“I appreciate the defendant thanking the responding deputies for their ability to end this situation with a safe resolution. Mental health is a crucial aspect of law enforcement and the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office is committed to serving our community, always using the least amount of force necessary.
The deputies’ response was rapid, tactically sound, and highly effective. The store was full of traumatized victims. Several more deputies and detectives responded to the scene to assist the witnesses and victims following the traumatic incident. I would like to thank these deputies as well as all of the Sheriff’s Department staff that continually put themselves in harms way for our community.”
See video below:
3 Responses
Kevin, I appreciate that you remembered to capitalize the “M” in Marine but Sgt. Sanchez earned the title and will always be a Marine. If anything he is a “former active duty Marine”. Once a Marine Always a Marine!
This sentence is a disgusting slap in the face to the justice system.
This terrorist was given a message. Holding victim’s at gunpoint (and knife point,) repeatedly stalking a woman doesn’t merit even one year in jail per victim.
As a person that’s experienced being stalked, the only thing that stopped my stalker was his crashing into a brick wall while drunk.
During his hospitalization I moved, took firearm classes from a FBI firearms instructor and attended self defense classes.
I purchased a firearm and pepper spray.
I left friend’s in the dust because it takes one person to slip up and give away your location.
This short time in jail will allow this “sniper in waiting” the time to plot his revenge. Free housing, free food and the free time to dream about his upcoming Rebecca Schaefer moment.
Every law enforcement officer I dealt with told me to get a gun, get a big dog, get a new vehicle and move as far away as possible.
With the internet giving and selling away our privacy, there’s no safe place to run to.
Be confident, the gun range is your friend. Don’t get rusty.
Go into a career where you carry a firearm as part of your job description.
Turn on a police scanner. Law enforcement officer’s are overwhelmed, understaffed, underpaid and disrespected.
Count how many time’s backup unit’s are UNAVAILABLE.
With judges like this, the funeral Industry will be booming.
Meanwhile J6ers that weren’t undercover fake MAGA violence enciters, rot in prison.
No bail hearings in most cases.
Often held in isolation without medical care, bibles or contact with people.
Some J6ers have received broken bones, physical and verbal attacks by their jailers.
Our country is teetering on a cliff.
Arsonists and violent protesters” get bail money raised by radical Democrat politicians.
Judges refuse to hear case’s with Whistle-blower evidence, regarding voting misdeeds, and criminals are now the coddled “victims.”
Earth to God…
Pray for our country, the real victims and survivor’s of criminals and our failing “justice system.”
☆Thank goodness for Kevin Mathewson and James O’Keefe III!
This is my opinion, while I’m still legally allowed to have one… ????
5.5 years, Yea that a joke .