(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department)
Editor’s Note: This story was updated on October 17, 2026, at 8:05 p.m. to acknowledge that Mr. Kuck’s operating a boat while intoxicated case was dismissed on the prosecution’s motion on February 14, 2025.
KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. – A 34-year-old Illinois man was arrested Saturday evening after he was saved from drifting too far from the shores of Lake Michigan. According to a Sheriff’s Department report, John R. Kuck, 34, of Northbrook, IL, called his father shortly before 10:00 pm and told him that he was stranded about a mile away from shore and he couldn’t get his boat started.
The father called the Sheriff’s Department saying he was concerned for his son. The Coast Guard was unavailable so two Kenosha County Deputies, Conlon and Matthies, drove to the coastguard station and jumped onto the County’s “Safe Boat.” The deputies began searching for Kuck, which was challenging. It was pitch black, and Kuck was allegedly intoxicated and uncooperative, refusing to call 9-1-1 to make himself easier to locate with GPS.
Eventially Kuck was convinced by disapatch to light off some flares, which assisted the deputies. They located Kuck and towed him to the marina.
One of the deputies wrote in his report that Kuck would not listen to directions and walked around the boat when told not to. On several occasions Kuck appeared to crouch down lower than the front windshield of the boat he was on which caused the deputy to lose visual of him. Kuck had been told multiple times to stay seated in the boat while deputies towed him to shore to ensure he did not fall off the boat. Once deputies arrived to Southport Marina, Kuck initially refused to identify himself but later gave them his Illinois driver’s license. The deputies noted that Kuck seem to be under the influence, but only admitted to drinking “one beer” on his grandparents yaht prior to operating the boat he was on.
Deputies noted in the reports that he was very defensive throughout the entire altercation. Kuck eventually performed the standardized field sobriety tests and it was determined that he was under the influence of intoxicants. He was arrested and transported to the jail for booking. He was issued citations for boating while intoxicated, refusal to provide a required blood/breath sample, failure to display identification number on a boat, and failure to carry or exhibit valid proof of safety certificate while operating a motorboat.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye
“This incident is yet another example of how officers are often called upon to serve the public and overcome obstacles – regardless of the conditions. There were no doubt challenges that these deputies had to face while navigating Lake Michigan in complete darkness. Luckily, our Marine Unit was equipped and ready to respond when the call came in. A short while after beginning the search, distress flares were utilized and Deputy Conlon and Deputy Matthies were able to locate the stranded vessel and tow it in.”
-Kenosha County Sheriff’s Spokesman Lt. Bryan Easter
16 Responses
The real story of the day is that the majority of the county board ignored the will of the 5th district and voted to install a leftist where a conservative had been elected. Adding an addition level of concern to the situation is that Geertsen & Karow supported this appointment, when even Brown & Morrissey had the good sense to oppose.
You’re lost. Take a left. Or right.
I would love to hear reasoning from the so-called conservatives, as to why they said, “Yes! Let’s appoint a liberal to a seat vacated by a conservative!”
Because it seems like they let their districts AND the 5th, down.
Upstanding citizen!
Read the other comments I replied to. Funny thing is, I stop and help more people in need but when I had a medical emergency I get arrested. I would really like to see you go through low blood sugar and be on a boat for 8 hours in 4ft waves stranded? The author and police of this story really concocted their own story to be the heroes. Not once did they ask if i needed medical attention or even announce they were police officers.
“Kuck”. Sometimes the jokes just write themselves.
Kudos to all the brave officers who have to deal with kucks on a daily basis.
Theres a whole other side of the story thier not talking about. If youd like to know the actual story let me know.
Just curious.
What “other” call were they on that didn’t make the news ?
That was what I was wondering as well!!
With the last name Kuck, they should have cut him a break. He’s got enough problems.
Should have left him out there. Stupid gets stupid prize.
Hey Tom,
Thanks for the kind words — I really appreciate it. The police here twisted the situation into something wild, and I want you to know what actually happened.
I recently found out I’m diabetic. The starter motor on the boat did fail, but after being stranded for 8 hours in four‑foot waves, I started feeling completely out of it. I had one beer from the neighbors earlier, but what I was really experiencing was low blood sugar and repeatedly passing out.
I asked the officers for medical help, and they dismissed it. They didn’t even identify themselves as the sheriff’s department at first. While they were walking across my cabin in four‑foot waves to attach their tow line to my bow, I ducked under the windshield to grab a loose wire so I could raise the stern drive — the jerking and swaying from the tow was getting dangerous.
What frustrates me is that they wrote a narrative full of lies. As we approached the harbor and our boats finally went side‑by‑side, that’s when they announced they were the sheriff’s department. I explained everything — that I’d been stranded for eight hours at that point and that I was experiencing the same symptoms I’d had once before at work. It turned out to be low blood sugar, not intoxication. I was fighting to stay awake because I was terrified and didnt know what was happening to my body. Im sure you would have handdled the situation much better. The real story is the police where out for blood and really took me for a ride on this made up narrative they concocted.
Why was the Coast Guard unavailable? Station not staffed 24/7? It’s great that those deputies did what they did, but come on that’s above and beyond.
IIRC Coast Guard cut staffing in Kenosha.
Thought it was silver lake, not lake michigan.
As the person in this story, Id like to share. Alot of this has been written in favor of the sheriff department. I was not drunk, having a case of low bloof sugar and more than 8 hours on the water in 4ft waves. This was when i found out i have diabetes. The truth what they actually did is fascinating how they treated me.