City of Kenosha Employee Charged with Misdemeanor Theft From Taxpayers

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Jamie D. Watkins, (54) of Kenosha, WI
(Mugshot, Kenosha County Sheriff, Added 7-3-2025)

Kenosha, Wis. – A City of Kenosha employee has been charged with one count of misdemeanor theft, according to court records. Jamie D. Watkins, a 54-year-old arborist employed by the city, is accused of stealing Menards rebate checks meant for the Parks Department. Watkins is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on February 27, 2025. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of nine months in jail, a $10,000 fine, and possible restitution.

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City Administrator John Morrissey confirmed that Watkins has been on paid leave since the theft was discovered. However, Mayor David Bogdala told KCE “Every employee, no matter what the circumstance, is afforded their due process and that is what occurred in this case.” Watkins is still employed and could be on the payroll while the criminal case unfolds—a process that could take over a year. Watkins earns almost $30 per hour.

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The Investigation

According to the criminal complaint, Detective Buchanan reviewed surveillance footage from Menards, located at 7330 74th Place, spanning from July 28, 2024, to October 20, 2024. The footage allegedly captured the same man—matching Watkins’ description—on multiple occasions. The suspect, often seen wearing a white baseball cap and sunglasses, was observed driving a 2019 white Toyota Tacoma, registered to both Jamie D. Watkins, and his wife.

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Detective Buchanan presented still images from the surveillance footage to Parks Director Katie Elder and other employees. Elder identified the individual in the footage as Watkins.

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Elder, who has served as director since April 2023 and oversees purchasing for daily operations, explained that Menards is frequently used for city purchases due to its convenience and rebate program. Employees are required to submit receipts for rebates, which are then processed through Rebates International.

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On October 28, 2024, a city employee inquired about missing rebate checks. By mid-November, Elder and other employees noted several rebate checks had disappeared. Further investigation revealed that rebate checks, amounting to $610.84, were used exclusively on Sundays—when the Parks Department is closed.

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Confession and Consequences

Detective Buchanan interviewed Watkins, who admitted to taking five to six rebate checks over the past seven to eight months. Watkins reportedly stated that he used the rebate money for personal purchases, including household items and food such as gummy bears, Febreze, and Sprecher root beer. He explained that financial struggles, particularly supporting a daughter in college, motivated him to take the funds.

Despite the allegations and admission, Watkins remains employed by the city, sparking questions about administrative policies on employee misconduct. City officials have yet to clarify why he continues to receive pay while awaiting trial.

As Watkins prepares for his February 27 court appearance, the case has raised concerns about oversight in city financial practices and employee accountability. More details are expected to emerge as the legal proceedings continue.

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122 Responses

  1. He will probably get off Scot free, just like the
    guy named Pat did from police fleet services for
    the scrap brake rotors and repairs he did off hours and the rebates.
    Nothing to see here. Move along folks.

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    1. Menards allows and honors rebates up to a year old.
      They used to have printed on the receipts that they needed to be mailed in in 30 days or so.
      No more. Rules changed.

      That said, you don’t need to total them up. Don’t need to Rip of the rebate part or anything other than to drop them in the mail with their return form. Any village or city could decide that all receipts go in one place in a basket all year long. And twice a year a single person can just stuff them in an envelope and put in the Menards return address card and drop it in the mail.
      Simple.

      The process described allows for corrupt people to be corrupt.
      Simplify the process. End abuse and theft.
      It’s not that hard folks for the taxpayers to get the 11% rebates and have them used by honest people for honest city purchases.
      Just fix the process

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      1. Menards should not allow Gov agencies to take the rebate. Also, why do we allow for the allegedly corrupt employee to be on paid leave? He even admitted to doing it. He should be fired immediately! Or non-paid leave since he admitted it. And when fired they should loose the coveted retirement. Since most “public servants” work just for the multi-million $ retirement, If that is at risk it will deter them for doing the corrupt deed.

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        1. Paid leave ? No. It’s not like there is an ongoing investigation where he might be vindicated. He’s on Camera ! Guilty.
          Fired immediately ? Yup !!
          Lose retirement ? That’s in the vesting rules. But at least not be allowed to be a government employee in the retirement system again. After conviction.

          As for Menards. You can’t stop who buys or who returns rebates. Never gonna happen. But like said above. Menards allows rebates up to a year. Limit who sends and receives the mail.

          Hey! Here’s a thought. Were these rebates “stolen out of the mail”
          That’s a Federal crime !!

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          1. No paid leave unless his is cleaning the bathrooms!! Put his ass to work cleaning up the parks or bathroom.

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        1. Correct.
          But the issue here is the procedure to send them in !
          It’s in the story.
          Limit that process and you remove temptation and the city maintains the proceeds

    1. That’s what I was thinking. Steinbrink got such a slap on the wrist! It’s pathetic! I hope he plans on moving when he gets out! I have looked up his sister’s address ( the one next to his that was built a few years ago, that nobody REALLY lives in) to see who her house is registered under and who pays the taxes on it, can’t find it. I wonder if it’s a house Pleasant Prairie “owns” and then gets sold and one of the Steinbrinks( or someone else in the corruption clan) pocket the money. I would love to see the permits that were pulled for that house and whi built it and what they got paid and bottom line…who is the person paying the taxes in it?

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  2. Anyone that can’t understand the ramifications of risking losing their GOVERNMENT JOB where in his case, he would have to drop a tree on his boss to even get a reprimand much less lose his job, risks it all for $600. ?!?!?!?!

    Any employee that can’t figure that math out doesn’t deserve to be trusted with tools that can hurt people !!

    Could have made that much cash delivering pizzas on just a few weekends.

    Can’t fix Stupid !!

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    1. That’s all he got CAUGHT with doing….I mean, even Steinbrink was caught doing SOOOO much more and he got NOTHING compared to what he should have gotten for what he stole from the people in Pleasant Prairie! This guy will walk away without anything happening to him. My question is, if he IS charged, will he have to pay back the money that was paid to him while he was on leave? Did Steinbrink have to pay back all the money Pleasant Prairie paid him while he was on leave? I doubt it.

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  3. This is the exact same thing a pleasant prairie public work employee did.

    Question I have is did this city employee make these purchases during working hours? Stealing city time as well!

    1. Just one of the many issues that were a part of Salems old administration and board.

      But I digress

  4. Just like Trump is doing, find out where my tax dollars are going. This guy should be fired for stealing but instead is getting a paid vacation. Can’t make this shit up

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    1. Your tax dollars are going to trumps many golf course trips. Helicopters, rooms, food, drinks and entertainment for the whole staff twice per week. Enjoy your $10.00 eggs.

      1. He wouldn’t be the first thief to be promoted within the city. He might even end up director of the parks department.

  5. In this case it’s a little vague as to how the department head who was responsible(?) actually caught this through ongoing audit/accounting or more by what is becoming common in Kenosha where someone not responsible blew the whistle.

    Wonder how much loss Kenosha actually experiences due to lax accounting and supervision?
    Might start with simply pulling random audits of Menard’s transactions.

  6. The bigger scam is the city paying “arborists”to kill time driving around and cutting down a tree every couple months. or the pothole crew and street sweeper wasting time.

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  7. So what? You have to mail in those rebates then wait for weeks. The city was never going to go through that trouble and it would have went to waste. Someone might as well get it.

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      1. This is pretty much exactly what Pat Sepanski, the Fleet Maintenance Manager, did and he got NOTHING! No fine, no suspension (other than the paid vacation he got during the investigation), no termination, NOTHING for stealing THOUSANDS of DOLLARS. Why would this guy be treated any different?

        1. The Parks director seems to be on a witch hunt since they took over. Fired employees for less than that.
          Either trying to make a name for herself or trying to get who she wants in those positions. Either way all the employees, up to and including supervisors shouldn’t piss her off or they might find themselves in the unemployment line. I wouldn’t want to work for someone like that unless I was one of her favorites.

    1. they have a program to catch the rebates, that’s how the moron was caught, missing rebates. It’s literally in the story.

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  8. Risks losing his job for $600. Stress of paying for college blah blah blah. My 4 kids basically paid for their college degrees by working and student loans. He should tell his daughter to pitch in. Doesn’t his wife work? I think he should be ordered to reimburse the city and lose his job. Don’t waste the jail cell on him.

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  9. This is all Nothing, he has been caught peeping through windows watching women change”which he got out of”. Has Gambling problem thats why “financial issues” Note his Daughters school look him up on CCAP, unpaid credit cards reverse mortgages unpaid payday loans! These people need to do more investigating on this guy this is nothing he has a problem. His wife same thing on ccap unpaid credit cards pitiful

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    1. Let’s add the time his wife feared for her life, and was running to neighbors’ home to get away from him, Humm who is protecting this guy, seems to get out of a lot of trouble. ccap only shows a small part of this guys issues.

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    1. Exactly, that is why I never step foot in Menards. They also don’t support their veterans like Home Depot and Lowe’s, so it’s been years since I’ve gone to Menards.

      1. I haven’t given Menards any business since they wouldn’t allow any children under the 16 years olds in the store during that flu season those few year(s) and they required everyone to wear the suffication device. A waitress ( single mom) was bringing her 6 year old in the store with her, masked up( poor kid) and all, but they wouldn’t allow her to shop there because he wasn’t 16! Literally told her she couldn’t bring her son in the store because he was under 16! Sick! I will never go back there!

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  10. Bet he makes less than the $8000.00 per month the “long time Kenosha detective” is currently getting paid while he’s “not allowed” inside the police department for over 2 full months. At least KUSD fires people who did wrong within a few days. How long does it take an employer whose primary job is to investigate to actually investigate at $8000 per month?
    Any updates chief?

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    1. Wait, KUSD “fires people who did wrong within a few days”????

      WHAT? Who, and when? They could almost make up their “deficit” if they fired all the “people who did wrong”.

      1. Look up the stories KCE has published. The KUSD employees who were fired were usually fired quickly. I’m not even debating the ones that weren’t, or why or how they kept their jobs.
        Just do yourself a favor and watch this story/non story of the long standing detective on leave with full pay for months, who is not allowed to enter the police station currently. If the person is that bad, why not fire the person.
        What’s taking so long for the police department to investigate this person???
        It’s because they don’t want egg on their face, and their golf buddies with the person, so It serves 2 purposes. Save their golf and drinking buddy’s job, save the reputation of the supervisors who were paid handsomely to oversee this person, but neglected their duties.
        Incompetence or neglect, you be the judge. But every taxpayer should have the information to make that informed decision.

    2. Sweep, sweep,sweep…. The sound of the chief and administration trying to sweep this under the rug to save face. Not in line with the new mission statement though. So this will be interesting how this particular issue play$ out. I’m willing to bet the long standing detective has many, many, many things he could point out about his bosses who have suspected him, and I’ve heard that’s the plan how he’s going to squeak by keeping his job.

  11. Biggest fraud of all- at 54, you know he’s using some just for men in that beard!! No way it’s that dark naturally!!!

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  12. Can we talk about having way too many city employees when you see 10 guys always watching the new guy do the work?

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        1. Yes but government jobs work that way. I work for the government and it is very, very, hard to get fired. We work for good benefits.But I also work a part time job Because the pay is not all that great.

  13. Bogdala talks a big game. He should have been fired immediately.
    The mayor is worried about photo ops and Facebook. Lol

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  14. Not real clear on this, if i steal from my employer and admit it to police, guess what? I don’t have a job no more, how does this guy still have a job?
    He should have been fired immediately. What the heck ? is going with are city.

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  15. He also thought it would be a good idea so no one parked on his side of the street to grab some “no parking by order of police department” signs and put them on his parkway.

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    1. o yea that also seems like another intitled city employee using the city to his advantage , try being in the same Neiborhood with this guy who thinks he is something and intitled. very agree person this guy is

  16. If you’re in the private sector, not a city, taxpayer funding job that has a union that would be considered theft from the company and I’d fire your ass.. And why do we have a city administrator in this town and a mayor? I’d fire the city administrator too.

    1. Yep- useless position that is overpaid. But if you buy a fake college degree, you can apply too.. (if they post the job). Remember, they didn’t post the job last time

      1. The City of administrator Morrissey should have been fired. He has had that fake degree for years and then let him sit there and collect over $200,000 in pay a year. Wow.
        Bagdala only cares about Facebook pictures. Well he cares about one other thing protecting his wife’s job.

  17. Policy is BS, the very people he stole from have to continue to pay his wage I’m sorry this is backassword.

  18. Bogdala is just as much of an idiot as Antaramian. Fire the guy or suspend him WITHOUT pay. Now, he gets to collect his salary while lying around at home. How stupid

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    1. Thief, stooled from a lot of people and past places, All the Watkins boys are something else. liars, cheaters, wife beaters, thieves, Low life group of offspring.
      fire him, hold him accountable for his action it’s the only way this guy may learn.

      1. All the Watkins boys? Check your facts. Don’t act like you’ve never done anything wrong in your life.( yes, anonymous isn’t really anonymous! I see you! ) Jamie has some problems, he’ll pay his debt and get on with his life. As we all have! At least the two of us that have been in trouble. If you feel this way about my family you shouldn’t act like a friend when you see me.

  19. How about the new parks Director, going to the Wisconsin Dells staying at a water park for management training with three younger male employees that she favors all the time on city tax payer dollars? This stuff shouldn’t be on tax payers dollars. Parks department is a wreck!

  20. Maybe there’s a different issue.
    Bogdala during his campaign promised to open the downtown hospital. He was all over it in the beginning when he closed it. My wife that works at the hospital. Just told me that his daughter got a big cushy job straight out of college. Probably making around $75,000 a year. I guess that’s how you keep quiet now about the hospital.

  21. Parkside Grounds Dept is just as bad. You arrive and go to the shop. Gotta finish the coffee before starting… get some tools needed for the job assignment and load into the Gator. First though you gotta drive around to look at and admire the female students arriving for school. More time wasted. Then eventually you get to where work to be done. Call over the radio to come back to the shop. “Boss” says to grab a bag of corn and head out to remote spot to feed deer. ( illegal) They eventually get pictures then venison later in the year. Go back to area where work assignment was. Drag the rake around and shovel some dirt and mulch for a few minutes. Ut oh … lunch time in 20 minutes… time to go back to shop. Can’t be late for lunch! Then lunch is over ( 10 minutes ago) and we take our time to head back out. Need to admire again. Boss comes by and sees we are behind schedule. Then determines they need to hire a third party to finish the job. Complete waste of tax payers money every day. Everything outsourced at a cost

  22. This is pretty much exactly what Pat Sepanski, the Fleet Maintenance Manager, did and he got NOTHING! No fine, no suspension (other than the paid vacation he got during the investigation), no termination, NOTHING for stealing THOUSANDS of DOLLARS. Why would this guy be treated any different?

    1. Why ? Why was nothing done , yep sweep sweep sweep under the rug.
      never any follow ups on the story , what about the long term detective that is on leave or was in the hot seat ,
      Nothing more on that either ,
      Kenosha dont we want to better then this and get these bad seeds out
      come on lets get this done and out there
      Make are city the city we all love .

  23. Let’s try to be a bit nicer here folks, what’s done is done and unfortunately his father passed on Monday.

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  24. How about the fact that Russle Schneider one of Katie’s little pets was allowed to frequently while on the job allowed to use city vehicles to grab plywood from Menards while on city time with tascko Ferati and bring it to his personal house. She has her three best little boys that are untouchables. Her husband should also question why she is frequently going to lunch with the same guy Brad.

  25. I’m the youngest brother in this family, and while I don’t excuse what happened, I do believe in second chances. None of us are perfect. My brother made a mistake, and he’s taking responsibility and facing the consequences. But the people who suffer most in silence are often the ones whose stories never get told—like his kids, who now have to watch strangers drag their dad online.

    I’ve made my own mistakes in the past, and I’ve worked hard to rebuild my life. I know what it’s like to be judged, especially in a small town where people remember who you used to be more than who you’ve become.

    We are more than headlines. And our families deserve compassion, not ridicule.

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KENOSHA, Wis. — Deputy District Attorney Drew Burgoyne announced Thursday that he will leave the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office in late August, ending a 16-year career defined by legal excellence, moral conviction, and deep public service. In a farewell email to staff earlier today, Burgoyne expressed gratitude for his colleagues and began with a passage from Ecclesiastes 3:1–15: “To every thing there

Fly Kidz Dance Celebrates 10 Years by Offering Free Fall Dance Program for Local Youth

TWIN LAKES, Wis. – In honor of its 10-year anniversary, Fly Kidz Dance is giving families in the Twin Lakes area something to celebrate—a completely free eight-week fall dance session for children, the studio announced this week. This marks the first time Fly Kidz has waived tuition fees in its decade-long history. The initiative is aimed at making dance more accessible, boosting children’s

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New Kenosha County Supervisor Sparks Outrage With 32-Hour Work Week Proposal

Kenosha County Board Supervisor Andres Gama (D)(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — A little-known first-term Kenosha County Board supervisor is causing a stir with a controversial draft resolution that would lay the groundwork for a county government shift to a four-day, 32-hour work week — with no reduction in pay. You must be logged in to view the

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Twin Lakes Fire/Rescue to Host Multi-Agency Emergency Training Sunday

TWIN LAKES, Wis. — Twin Lakes Fire/Rescue will lead a large-scale emergency response drill this Sunday, simulating a major school bus crash to test and enhance readiness across multiple agencies. The training exercise, scheduled for August 3, will involve a mock collision between a school bus and farm equipment. Held at Randall Fire Station 2 and Thelen Farm along 336th Avenue, the full-scale

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Kenosha Man Charged With Robbery, Drug Offenses After Alleged Assault on Ex-Girlfriend

Manuel M. Woods, 41, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. – A 41-year-old Kenosha man is facing six criminal charges after allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend, stealing her phone, and being found with nearly 200 grams of marijuana and Alprazolam pills. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Kenosha Man Accused of Selling Cocaine and THC Near Schools, Held on $75,000 Bail

Timothy L. Taylor, 47, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha man on extended supervision for heroin dealing is back in custody after police allegedly found cocaine, marijuana, and a firearm during multiple searches in July, much of it near local schools. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Kenosha Man Held on $75,000 Bail in Cocaine, Firearm Case

Alexander S. Tovar, 39, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 39-year-old Kenosha man was charged Tuesday with multiple felonies after police allegedly found over 100 grams of cocaine, a rifle, and more than $18,000 in suspected drug money inside a home on the city’s south side. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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OWI Driver Who Threatened Deputies After Crash Serves Jail Time One Year Later

Duane T. Nicholas, 44 of Bristol(Kenosha County Sheriff) SOMERS, Wis. — A 44-year-old Bristol man who crashed his car while allegedly intoxicated and later threatened to kill two deputies has served his sentence almost exactly one year after the incident. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Lori Plahmer Resigns as Kenosha County Health Officer; Search for Successor Underway

.KENOSHA, Wis. — Lori Plahmer has resigned as Kenosha County’s Health Officer, effective Monday, ending her tenure as head of the county’s Division of Public Health after just over a year in the role. County Executive Samantha Kerkman announced the resignation Tuesday, thanking Plahmer for her service and wishing her well in future endeavors. Plahmer first joined the department in 2020 as a

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Bail Lowered for Kenosha Man in High-Speed Chase Despite DA Objections

Marco A. Infusino, 25, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. — The cash bail for Marco A. Infusino — the 25-year-old Kenosha man accused of leading police on a 115 mph chase into Illinois — has been lowered twice in the span of just over a week. Court Commissioner William Michel initially signed a $75,000 arrest warrant, then set bail at $50,000 during

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DA: Kenosha Man Threatened to Kill Ex, Held Gun Inches from Her Head

Joseph T. Leese-Schulte, 23, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. – A 23-year-old Kenosha man is accused of pointing a gun at his ex-girlfriend’s head during an hours-long ordeal that allegedly included a high-speed drive, threats of murder, and a forced walk to a lakeshore rock pile while he held her at gunpoint. You must be logged in to view the rest of

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Kenosha Man Accused of Getting High Before High-Speed Chase

Josue I. Rubio Arreguin, 20, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff) PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. – A 20-year-old Kenosha man is facing multiple criminal charges—and a municipal OWI—after allegedly leading police on a 100 mph chase while under the influence of THC. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Kenosha Man Charged With Spitting at Officer, Stealing Liquor From Downtown Bar

Cristian San Pedro Lopez, 33(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. — A homeless man is facing multiple charges after allegedly stealing a $140 bottle of whiskey, brandishing a knife, and attempting to spit on a police officer during his arrest Saturday night. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Illinois Man Charged with Felony Domestic Abuse After Allegedly Trying to Hit Woman with Car

Deandre E. James, 25, of Illinois(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 25-year-old Waukegan man is facing five criminal charges after allegedly assaulting the mother of his children in front of a Kwik Trip store, throwing her to the ground and attempting to hit her with his vehicle, all while the couple’s two young children were present. You must be logged in to

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Racine Man Charged with OWI 5th After Allegedly Driving 80 mph Drunk in Somers

James Kenney Taylor, 54, of Racine(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. – A 54-year-old Racine man with a lengthy drunk driving history was charged Monday with his fifth offense of operating while intoxicated, after allegedly speeding at 80 mph through the Village of Somers while under the influence of alcohol. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Kenosha Man Accused of Strangling Woman, Threatening to Kill Her, and Fleeing with Children

Milton S. Alvarado Gomez, 33 of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. – A 33-year-old Kenosha man is facing six charges—including felony strangulation—after allegedly attacking the mother of his children twice in one week, threatening to kill her, pouring hot water on her, and fleeing with their children, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday. You must be logged in to view the rest

Steil to Hold Elkhorn Listening Session Moderated by WCLO’s Tim Bremel

ELKHORN, Wis. – U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil will host an in-person listening session this Thursday evening at Elkhorn Area High School, giving constituents in Wisconsin’s First Congressional District a chance to voice concerns and seek help with federal agencies. The session will run from 5:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. in the school auditorium, located at 482 E. Geneva Street. It is free and

Crash Sparks Fire, Downed Power Lines in Salem Lakes; Two Injured

SALEM LAKES, Wis. — A fiery two-vehicle crash at the intersection of County Roads B and F on Friday evening downed power lines and sent two people to the hospital with minor injuries, authorities said. Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue was dispatched to the scene around 6:30 p.m. on July 25. When crews arrived, both vehicles were fully engulfed in flames, and a broken utility

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