Deputy Suspended Over Retaliatory Traffic Stop After Middle Finger Incident

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Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Manuel Mandujano #379
(Kenosha Sheriff)

Kenosha, Wis. — The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office has disciplined a deputy who conducted a questionable traffic stop after a driver gave him the middle finger — a gesture protected by the First Amendment.

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Deputy Manuel Mandujano Jr. received a one-day unpaid suspension and mandatory constitutional policing training following an internal investigation into the February 1 incident, which gained traction online after video footage was posted to the “LackLuster” YouTube channel. The footage showed Mandujano initiating a stop on a DoorDash driver after the driver flipped him off while passing in the Village of Bristol.

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According to disciplinary records obtained by Kenosha County Eye through an open records request, Mandujano admitted the gesture angered him and that it influenced his decision to pull the driver over. He initially claimed the driver was going 35 mph in a 45 zone and was “impeding traffic,” but later conceded he did not confirm whether other vehicles were behind the car — a key element of that violation.

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The Sheriff’s Office found that Mandujano failed to establish reasonable suspicion for the stop, instead focusing on what he called a “contemptuous” gesture. “He was fixated on the black SUV and was still upset about the gesture,” the internal memo states. “He second-guessed his rationale for the stop after it had occurred.”

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The department’s report acknowledges that Mandujano was aware — both before and after the stop — that flipping off an officer is not grounds for detention. He told investigators that the driver appeared to be baiting him and that he made a phone call afterward to a fellow deputy to “vent.”

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The incident drew public criticism after the driver posted the dashcam video to YouTube, saying he didn’t press the issue further during the stop because he had food in his car to deliver. In the video, Mandujano questions the driver about the gesture and only briefly references the alleged traffic infraction before letting the driver go.

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Kenosha County’s disciplinary report cited multiple policy violations, including abuse of authority, failure to uphold constitutional rights, and unprofessional conduct. Investigators said Mandujano’s actions were inconsistent with the department’s standards but described him as a generally high-performing deputy.

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“The First Amendment actions of citizens, no matter how contemptuous they may be toward law enforcement, should never elicit this type of reaction,” the report stated.

In addition to the one-day suspension, Mandujano is required to complete retraining focused on constitutional policing, including First Amendment protections, emotional control, and legal standards for traffic enforcement.

Records also show that Mandujano received two separate training memos in May 2023 for misclassifying squad and body camera footage. In one case involving a felony arrest, three videos were improperly tagged, potentially affecting video retention timelines under state law. A second memo documented similar issues with two videos from a misdemeanor arrest. In both instances, Mandujano was warned that future violations could result in progressive discipline.

While these earlier incidents did not result in formal disciplinary action, supervisors cited them as part of Mandujano’s training history during the February investigation.

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99 Responses

          1. Your a bootlicker that needs to go back to Nazi Germany if you’re gonna allow these pigs to stomp all over our Rights under the United States Constitution.

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    1. Though your description of the doordash driver is correct, and probably even too kind, it is a win in reminding officers of the law, that simply being angry does not give them an excuse a false arrest, ticket, or anything similar. Things happen to me everyday that pissed me off, but if we expect this to be a society worth living in, we need to follow certain rules and how we react. Personally, I would have no problem with a deputy flipping the bird right back to someone, but I’m kind of a hot head and maybe that’s why I’ve never run for sheriff. 🤣🤣🤣

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    1. Constitutionally protected activities do not merit citations. You can still support whoever you want, that’s the beauty of living in the Greatest Nation on God’s Green Earth. Freedom of speech protects speech others disagree with.

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      1. Yeah… Given this deputy’s past history sounds like he’s pretty much a power tripper. Cant have that. So somebody flipped him off big deal.Go after the real criminals!

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    2. You are a fking clown. Move to North Korea if you support the actions of a cop who shit all over the first amendment

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    3. That boot must be tasty booticker, given you are so furiously licking it.

      I for one support the hero doordasher who bravely stood up too the worthless disgusting crook and have him a well deserved humiliation. Remember, there is not such thing as a good cop and it’s our patriotic duty to stand up to crooks and humiliate them whenever we can to keep them humble. I encourage people too look down on cops and insult them whenever they can as only the worst scum of the earth becomes cops or support cops.

  1. Has any Media reached out to DoorDash to get their reaction? It seems to me that, if the Driver remains part of their organization, it indicates that DoorDash Corporate supports on-duty DoorDash employees/contractors randomly abusing Law Enforcement.

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    1. How did he abuse law enforcement🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️ flipping someone off is not abuse 🤣🤣

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      1. I was raised by parents who taught me to be respectful of others….particularly those in Law Enforcement who put their lives on the line everyday for us all. Yes….using a hand gesture that means “F*ck You” toward someone legally restricted from a proper response…. is both a cowardly act and a form of abuse.

        I am sorry that your parents failed to instill basic human decency in your approach to others.

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        1. Maybe a cowardly act but no form of abuse detected we have a freedom of speech and he was exercising it reason why the cop is being reprimanded duh

          My parents definitely didn’t fail anything they actually did an amazing job since they taught me enough decency to put love into the world enough that I adopted children that were not mine so before you speak upon anyone know so you don’t make an a*% out of yourself 🤷🏽‍♀️

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          1. The fact that you are raising your children to believe flipping off a police officer is OK says everything I need to know about you.

            1. You are teaching cowardice and hate.
            2. Your kids may rightfully take a good beating if they flip off the wrong person. Your failure as a parent will cause them to learn basic decency the Hard Way…..sadly.

            Be better.

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              1. It was just a finger gesture. Yes, it is his constitutional right to be a prick.

                But it’s also a completely valid question for the folks running DoorDash. You want your drivers flipping off random people? Cops or otherwise? A good look for your business?

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            1. Lmbo I raised some amazing young men FYI very respectful, they give back to their community, one works one has his own business, they are mentors and have an abundance of people that love them so guess what I raise Great men that contribute positivity to the society and I did it all as a single parents..but what I can see from you and your up bring ing is that your parents didn’t teach you how not to be judgmental and think before you speak.. Bad bad trait in life you should worry more about your judgement on others and less about someone being flipped off..

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            2. It is okay to flip off the police. 1st Amendment’s “redress of grievance”

              Is it in poor taste to many? Yes. But still not only legal to do but constitutionally protected.

              You said you are a Republican. Republicans are conservative. Do you have any idea what conservatives want to conserve? Hint: The Constitution!

              So please look up from that shiny boot you’ve been licking and study the caselaw that protected the Door Dash driver.

        2. Parents raised me to respect police officers. I respect most of them. I have had more positive than bad interactions in my life. Cops have to be better than the average citizen. Not losing your shit when someone flips you off is part of the job. Even if that person is a douche. It’s constitutionally protected and every cop should know that.
          I’m thankful for the times KPD has helped my family and others. I won’t name those detectives and officers that did good work.
          Seems like this officer won’t lose his job. Hope he and the rest of the force learns from this.
          I agree it was cowardly. But for an officer it should just roll off of you.

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        3. Is it cowardly for those in law enforcement to stand around in a hallway while 17 elementary school kids are being gunned down? Refer to Uvalde police department.

    2. I doubt that Door Dash will be dumb enough to penalize an employee for exercising his First Amendment rights.

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      1. That is one of the stupidest comments ever. Just because something is constitutional does not mean it is decent or acceptable in any sort of honorable engagement. Picking your nose and thumbing your butt is your constitutional right, but are you going to hire someone that does that during the interview? And if you get comments from customers that they are disgusted by the acitons of the employee for doing those things, are you going to keep them on? I personally hope this driver gets fired and learns to be a more decent person. He is clearly a passive aggessive loser.

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    3. Like that is really going to happen. Doordash doesn’t care who or what transfers your food and how much of it they sample on the way or even throw it on your roof if they decide you didn’t give them enough of a tip.

    4. That boot must be tasty booticker, given you are so furiously licking it.

      I for one support the hero doordasher who bravely stood up too the worthless disgusting crook and have him a well deserved humiliation. Remember, there is not such thing as a good cop and it’s our patriotic duty to stand up to crooks and humiliate them whenever we can to keep them humble. I encourage people too look down on cops and insult them whenever they can as only the worst scum of the earth becomes cops or support cops.

      I do hope that doordash gives him a bonus for so bravely doing his patriotic duty and exercised his rights and told the cop of. Very much a good deed of the day that should be rewarded.

  2. I’ve dealt with this officer in the past. He was professional and all went well. Just a bad judgement move. Sometimes emotions get the best of us

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    1. This is a lack of professionalism and understanding of the “Job”.

      Should police know every law in the book ? No.
      But what happened here is lack of knowledge that is learned in High School. And how important it is.

      As someone who has seen hundreds of these type of videos I would think that these types of videos should be required viewing for all law enforcement personnel. Just an hours worth will explain how you and your department opens themselves up to huge lawsuits and ultimately payouts that us the taxpayers foot the bill for.

      This was exactly what it is, retaliation for a bruised ego. Like fireman, these deputies get paid well for putting their lives on the line.
      They choose this job. If they can’t handle public abuse, legally protected abuse, then leave the profession !
      Kenosha County Sheriff Department, do better !!

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      1. Firemen and deputies are underpaid based on the current Kenosha area job market and cost of living. What they’re starting at now, was decent 10 years ago. Wages of civilian jobs have increased hand over fist during that time. Government processes are slow to react to market conditions.

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        1. Fireman and deputies are like any employee in any market, they are free to leave at any time if they do not feel it is the best career situation for them. They aren’t indentured servants and they don’t get chained to a desk or squad. They can turn in any employer owned property and walk away at any time.

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          1. The one in this article is overpaid. I’d much rather pay for a firefighter who’s job it is to run into a burning building than a cop who is under no obligation to risk his life if say, someone is shooting up a school in some town like Uvaldi Texas. Where they just sit around hoping the terrorist will stop and preventing parents from doing the job they are supposedly paid to do. Cops tend to be bullies and cowards where as firefighters tend to be heroes. They do have one thing in common, they both want to be firefighters!

    2. So in court it’s the dirty cops word against the citizen! If the driver didn’t record this encounter he would have gotten a ticket.

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  3. At the end of the day you have a grown ass man earning shit pay for delivering DoorDash. In my book, he is a LOSER! Karma 🙂

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      1. Far from perfect, but I respect law enforcement, unlike this loser. So yeah, I find it hilarious he is nearly 40 and earning $20k a year. Shit life for shit people, also known as karma.

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    1. Of course the guy is a loser, but probably less of a loser than many of the people a deputy will encounter during his shift. That’s why deputies are supposed to hold themselves to a certain standard of behavior, and not expect everyone they run into to be a future saint. Hopefully this is a wake up call for a very young officer to get a s*** together and turn his career around before he ends up incarcerated with some of the people he was angry at in the past.

  4. Door Dash Driver loser or no loser, the Deputy should not have engaged in this negative attention produced by the loser Driver, He fell right into the trap that these people set up, just like all the ones you see on the internet, Police are held to higher professional behavior, One day is not enough should have been a 3 day no pay and learn how to be a professional you should be. You are a Police officer act like one , Serve and protect !!!!

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  5. 40 hours of constitutional review.

    These types of interactions will increase greatly in the future. While we haven’t yet reached the “us vs them” point such as seen in other countries that declare martial law and have a police state, these scenarios are bound to happen more and more.

    For the “victim with a camera” we hope it goes no further than the stop and let go. But for the taxpayers, we hope it doesn’t happen at all.
    Every one of these interactions are subject to a lawsuit. A lawsuit that these deputies don’t have to pay out of their own pockets.
    It’s my pocket. Therefore I get to tell them, get more training ! Or leave the profession

  6. I don’t know what to say about this other then the sheriff’s dept do need training. I’m going through a case now that if the sheriff’s dept would’ve saved my life of the night in question I wouldn’t be going through it now. I started my car thinking they come in and save me and it’s all on camera and they just looked at my car n left n I was held hostage till the next day after being beat and strangled. They didn’t search the whole premises and lied on the report. Lazy police work and can’t wait to hear their stories in court. 😪

  7. I think the sheriff’s department had little choice to do what they did. “Flipping off” an officer, however, is not always protected speech. Depending on the circumstances, such as whether young children were present, it could be disorderly conduct.

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      1. WI has Unconstitutional “Disorderly Conduct” laws.
        947.01 Disorderly conduct.
        (1) Whoever, in a public or private place, engages in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
        (2) Unless other facts and circumstances that indicate a criminal or malicious intent on the part of the person apply, a person is not in violation of, and may not be charged with a violation of, this section for loading a firearm, or for carrying or going armed with a firearm or a knife, without regard to whether the firearm is loaded or the firearm or the knife is concealed or openly carried.
        History: 1977 c. 173; 1979 c. 131; 2011 a. 35; 2015 a. 149.
        The defendant was properly convicted of disorderly conduct when the defendant appeared on a stage wearing a minimum of clothing intending to and succeeding in causing a loud reaction in the audience. State v. Maker, 48 Wis. 2d 612, 180 N.W.2d 707 (1970).
        An attorney was properly convicted under this section for refusing to leave a ward in a mental hospital until he had seen a client after having made statements in the presence of patients that caused some to become agitated. State v. Elson, 60 Wis. 2d 54, 208 N.W.2d 363 (1973).
        It was not disorderly conduct for four people to enter an office with other members of the public for the purpose of protesting the draft and to refuse to leave on orders of the police when their conduct was not otherwise disturbing. State v. Werstein, 60 Wis. 2d 668, 211 N.W.2d 437 (1973).
        This statute does not require a victim, but, when the disorderly conduct is directed at a person, that person is the victim for the purpose of prosecuting the perpetrator for intimidating a victim under s. 940.44. State v. Vinje, 201 Wis. 2d 98, 548 N.W.2d 118 (Ct. App. 1996), 95-1484.
        A “true threat” is a statement that a speaker would reasonably foresee that a listener would reasonably interpret as a serious expression of a purpose to inflict harm, as distinguished from hyperbole, jest, innocuous talk, expressions of political views, or other similarly protected speech. It is not necessary that the speaker have the ability to carry out the threat. State v. Perkins, 2001 WI 46, 243 Wis. 2d 141, 626 N.W.2d 762, 99-1924. But see Counterman v. Colorado, 600 U.S. ___, 143 S. Ct. 2106, 216 L. Ed. 2d 775 (2023).
        Purely written speech, even written speech that fails to cause an actual disturbance, can constitute disorderly conduct, but the state has the burden to prove that the speech is constitutionally unprotected “abusive” conduct. “Abusive” conduct is conduct that is injurious, improper, hurtful, offensive, or reproachful. “True threats” clearly fall within the scope of this definition. State v. Douglas D., 2001 WI 47, 243 Wis. 2d 204, 626 N.W.2d 725, 99-1767.
        Application of the disorderly conduct statute to speech alone is permissible under appropriate circumstances. When speech is not an essential part of any exposition of ideas, when it is utterly devoid of social value, and when it can cause or provoke a disturbance, the disorderly conduct statute can be applicable. State v. A.S., 2001 WI 48, 243 Wis. 2d 173, 626 N.W.2d 712, 99-2317.
        Disorderly conduct does not necessarily require disruptions that implicate the public directly. This section encompasses conduct that tends to cause a disturbance or disruption that is personal or private in nature, as long as there exists the real possibility that the disturbance or disruption will spill over and disrupt the peace, order, or safety of the surrounding community as well. Sending repeated, unwelcome, and anonymous mailings was “otherwise disorderly conduct.” State v. Schwebke, 2002 WI 55, 253 Wis. 2d 1, 644 N.W.2d 666, 99-3204.
        Defiance of a police officer’s order to move is itself disorderly conduct if the order is lawful. Braun v. Baldwin, 346 F.3d 761 (2003).

    1. ! Disgruntled citizen “gives the finger” to a La Crosse cadet writing parking tickets.
      ! Is this disorderly conduct?
      ! Court of Appeals: “[G]iving a cadet ‘the
      finger’ is not in itself disorderly conduct.”
      ! But . . .“[D]oing so in the presence of children is another matter. Children should not be subjected to that universal symbol
      of contempt and sexual content.”

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      1. Oh for heavens sake .My third grader grandchild is learning this in their class. Turn on the TV You see more sexual content than that!

        1. When I was growing up, it was sometime known as “The Flying Fickle Finger of Fate” award,. Then again that was based on what you watched as night time T.V.

  8. So the officer lied by saying the guy was speeding and that’s why he pulled him over. Should be fired on the spot. Dirty SOB

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  9. Well I was charged with disorderly conduct for sticking my middle finger up at an officer for good reasons! I learned that IS considered a disorderly conduct! Apparently it’s equivalent to a swear word! 🙄

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  10. I’m in my mid sixties and I still don’t like cops. I don’t like cops to the point that I go out of my way to avoid them. My vehicle is good mechanical shape including all the lights. I drive the speed limit and signal all turns and lane changes. I drive around Kenosha and county pissed off about all the stupid drivers hanging on a fender in the left lane. So I avoid the cops.

    I will say that 18 months ago, I got into a fender bender here in Kenosha. I legally carry a gun and all 6 officers that showed up were all professional.

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  11. Wow….no mention of the convicted felon drug dealer who was the guy who the cop pulled over, Aaron Rodefer?

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    1. Yeah, Aaron Rodefer is a worthless piece of shit. I sure hope he walks a straight line in life now, as I assure you he will be given zero breaks by any Kenosha law enforcement in the future.

      DoorDash loser!

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  12. I don’t know. First amendment or not. That cop didn’t do anything wrong and the door dash creep should have received a ticket for disorderly conduct or something. Our police have to put up with so much. I feel bad for them.

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    1. Ohh you feel bad for them… I guess that means it’s ok for them to act like criminals. Dn you’re a joke.

  13. By these comments, we have a bunch of disrespectful people living in Kenosha. You respect the BADGE, period! Hopefully Aaron will get a hot dose of fentanyl in the future and no officer saves his life. He will not be missed, an 18 year old college student will take his place as a DoorDasher.

    Hey Aaron, you are scum, a loser, don’t be so proud.

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  14. If the motorist was engaging in disorderly conduct then there should have been a stop and arrest for that. But it was for “contempt of cop” which is not necessarily against the law. The discipline seems pretty light. Poor judgment by the officer.

  15. Yea, right, a Kenosha Sheriff’s deputy was pulling someone over for going 10 under. Meanwhile, everywhere else in the county, people are doing 20-30+ over, and the sheriff’s department turns a blind eye. No wonder road deaths & accidents are so extreme!

  16. Most cops violate people’s civil rights on a daily basis. They’re not educated correctly and give the *That’s how we e been doing it forever* excuse. Normalization of deviance is a problem in LE everywhere.

  17. It seems to me that those who don’t like cops must have had a few run ins with them. Good faith citizens don’t have negative experiences with law enforcement. Cops have some level of discretion and when someone acts like a rude, undisciplined disrespectful jerk he is not going to get the benefit of the doubt. We all know that the middle finger is a crude aggressive gesture and using it says a lot about that person! Legal or not it is wrong headed and inviting trouble.

    1. Not everyone who is down on cops is a criminal. I’ve too much experience dealing with cops to actually respect most of them. I think I’m finally up to 2 that I found that were worth anything.

  18. Again, I think people miss the point of this story.

    You could be a law-abiding conservative fellow who follows the laws but loves his 1st Amendment……if that’s who flipped the cop off, it would be one thing.

    However, here…you’ve got some POS who was just convicted of felonies relating to drug dealing flipping off the cop. That is just a fucking piece of shit regardless of the First Amendment. People like this are the trash of the Earth that cops have to deal with.

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  19. This seems like a pretty fair outcome. Hopefully the cop will mature and gain some emotional restraint. Hopefully the driver will too.
    I am, however, puzzled by a society that overpays for garbage fast food to sit in a stranger’s vehicle for who knows how long so that it can be handed to them. It’s gross.
    The chronically sedentary get to gorge and add to the population of corpulents.

  20. Double Standards going on here.

    The ThinBlueLineGang got one day off and a paid training on the constitution ( something taught in public schools) and zero criminal charges for his criminal acts……… If wethepeople break the law, we get charged for them.

    This cop has at least illegal detainment, attempted kidnapping, abuse of power and violation of oath of office.

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KENOSHA, Wis. — Three suspects are behind bars after authorities say a confrontation near the Somers Walmart erupted into two simultaneous high-speed pursuits, with one suspect allegedly ramming a marked Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office squad and another crashing into an uninvolved vehicle. Ace Leo Frank, 34, of Elkhart, Indiana; Cody Luigi Frank, 22, of Hudson, Wisconsin; and Sable Russell, 34 were all taken

Federal Reversal on California Casino Raises New Questions for Kenosha’s Off-Reservation Project

KENOSHA, Wis. — The Menominee Tribe is hoping for a quick approval of its proposed Kenosha casino, but recent decisions by the U.S. Department of the Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs are raising new questions about how the federal government will approach off-reservation casino projects. The Department of the Interior recently withdrew approval for the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ California

Internet Troll, Career Criminal Gets Probation For Felony 4th OWI After .156 Breath Test

KENOSHA, Wis. — Matthew J. Mortensen, 49, of Burlington, an internet troll who Kenosha County Eye has seen trolling people across the internet and a repeat criminal offender with multiple prior convictions, was given probation Wednesday by Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge David Hughes for a felony fourth-offense OWI. Mortensen faced up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine on the

Kenosha, Milwaukee Police Unions Endorse Bryan Steil for Reelection

KENOSHA, Wis. — Congressman Bryan Steil has picked up endorsements from two major southeastern Wisconsin law enforcement organizations as he campaigns for reelection to Congress. The Kenosha Professional Police Association Board and Milwaukee Police Association announced their support for Steil, citing his record on law enforcement and public safety. “The men and women of law enforcement put their lives on the line every

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Kenosha Man Charged With Felony Stalking After Allegedly Threatening to Kill Woman, Her Sisters and Her Children

Joseph L. Woodward, 33, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Joseph L. Woodward, 33, of Kenosha, was charged Thursday with felony stalking and four additional criminal counts after prosecutors say he engaged in a months-long campaign of unwanted contact against a woman, allegedly culminating in threats to kill her, her sisters and her children. Woodward, who was already out on bail

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Domestic Abuse Repeater Accused Of Punching Woman Five Times, Barricading Himself From Police; Taser Malfunctions During Arrest

Willie J. Brown, 45, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Willie J. Brown, 45, of Kenosha, is facing five criminal charges after prosecutors say he punched his ex-girlfriend in the face five times, took away her phone when she tried to call 911 and then barricaded himself inside a Kenosha home before a tense confrontation with police. Brown, who prosecutors allege

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Recent Westosha Central Graduate, Wrestler Charged With Biting Deputy, Spitting on First Responders After Salem Lakes Crash

Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. — Lucas Sandrik, 19, of Salem, a recent Westosha Central High School graduate and wrestler, is facing three felony charges after prosecutors say he crashed an SUV into a parked vehicle and retaining wall in Salem Lakes, then became violently combative with deputies and rescue personnel, biting a Kenosha County

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Woman Accused Of Biting, Scratching And Spitting On Kenosha Cops Gets No-Cash Bail From Kellum

Rolexsea N. Curtis, 25, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 25-year-old Kenosha woman accused of biting one police officer, scratching another until he bled and then spitting directly into the officer’s face was released on no-cash bail Thursday by Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum, further underscoring Kellum’s soft-on-crime approach to bail — even for defendants accused of physically harming law

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Kenosha Man Accused Of Posting Butthole Photo Online, Throwing Soda Can At Sister, Sprinting From Police

Kelvin Andrew Smith, 34, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha man is facing criminal charges after police say a confrontation with his sisters over a photo he posted of his butthole on the internet escalated into him throwing things inside their home and then taking off in a “dead sprint” when a Kenosha Police officer arrived. Kelvin Andrew Smith,

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Wedding Crasher Chaos: Uninvited Woman Put Bride In Headlock, Bridesmaid Allegedly Dragged Her Down By Her Hair

Kenosha Police Department(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. — What was supposed to be a wedding reception at The Vault in Downtown Kenosha erupted into a massive brawl involving an estimated 20 to 30 people after an allegedly uninvited woman showed up and attacked the bride, according to newly filed criminal complaints. Angela Wright, 38, and Rita N. Wright,

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Career Criminal Charged With OWI-3rd Told Cop “I’m Fucked Already”; Skips Court, $1,500 Cash Warrant Issued

Jonathan L. Cox, 40, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 40-year-old Kenosha man with a lengthy criminal history allegedly told a police officer “I’m fucked already” during an OWI investigation this week, and then failed to show up for his first court appearance Thursday. Jonathan L. Cox, 40, of Kenosha, was charged Thursday with operating while intoxicated-third offense as a

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Kenosha Woman Charged With OWI-3 As Repeater After Allegedly Admitting She ‘Shouldn’t Have Drove’; Kellum Releases Her On No-Cash Bail

Laura Marie Coleman, 40, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 40-year-old Kenosha woman accused of driving drunk for the third time and charged as a repeat offender was released Thursday on no-cash bail by newly appointed Kenosha County Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum. Laura Marie Coleman, 40, of Kenosha, is charged with OWI-3rd Offense as a repeater, which carries a

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Serious Three-Vehicle Crash In Kenosha Leaves Multiple People Seriously Injured, One Person Trapped In Vehicle

Serious Crash Friday Afternoon(Photo by BC) KENOSHA, Wis. — A serious three-vehicle crash in Kenosha’s inner city Thursday afternoon left multiple people injured, including two people whose injuries were considered immediately life-threatening or otherwise required the highest priority for emergency treatment, according to emergency radio traffic reviewed by Kenosha County Eye. Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) Investigators Friday Afternoon(Photo by BC) You must

“Double Trouble” Was In Trouble On Lake Michigan Saturday Morning: Five Aboard Sinking Boat Make It Safely To Kenosha

KENOSHA, Wis. — A boat appropriately named “Double Trouble” found itself in some serious trouble on Lake Michigan Saturday morning when it began taking on water with five adults aboard, prompting a large response from emergency crews and numerous boaters who tried to help. Kenosha Fire Department Deputy Chief Scott Krueger told Kenosha County Eye Saturday afternoon that there was initially considerable confusion

Multiple Callers Report Bullets Flying Over Strawberry Creek Golf Course, Golfers Hit The Ground

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Multiple people reported gunfire and bullets apparently flying over Strawberry Creek Golf Course Saturday afternoon, prompting a response from the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement. At about 1:40 p.m. Saturday, multiple callers reported hearing shots in the area of Strawberry Creek. People who contacted Kenosha County Eye and said they were at the golf course reported

Dear KUSD – I Told You So: KCE Reporting Helped Trigger Investigation That Led To Teacher’s Firing For Grooming-Like Behavior

KENOSHA, Wis. — An Indian Trail High School student who had read Kenosha County Eye’s reporting about former KUSD math teacher Steven Edward Telkamp wrote an op-ed about the allegations that followed him from the Mukwonago Area School District. That student’s writing made its way to school administrators, who learned of a connection between the student author and a female student at Bradford

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Wilmot High School Volunteer Charged With 11 Felonies After Alleged Sexual Relationship With 16-Year-Old, Child Porn Found In Snapchat

Austin Carl Scaletta, 19, of Twin Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) TWIN LAKES, Wis. — A 19-year-old Twin Lakes man who volunteered at Wilmot High School is facing 11 felony charges after investigators say they uncovered sexually explicit Snapchat conversations, videos and photographs involving a 16-year-old girl, along with evidence that the two had sex. Austin Carl Scaletta, 19, of Twin Lakes, was charged

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Twin Lakes Man Charged With Felony 4th OWI, Gets No-Cash Bail From Kellum

Cory K. Wilson, 21, of Twin Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) TWIN LAKES, Wis. — Cory K. Wilson, 21, of Twin Lakes, was charged Friday with felony fourth-offense operating while intoxicated after prosecutors say his growing OWI record transformed a March 2025 second-offense case into a felony fourth offense. Despite Wilson’s recent history of OWI cases, allegedly repeatedly driving while revoked, multiple bail-jumping charges,

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Genoa City Man Charged With Two Felonies After Allegedly Fighting Deputies, Kicking One of Them In Ribs

Kenneth Gordon Thilmont, 48, of Genoa City(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) TOWN OF RANDALL, Wis. — Kenneth Gordon Thilmont, 48, of Genoa City, is facing two felonies and three misdemeanors after prosecutors say he barricaded himself inside his home during a mental-health investigation and later violently fought with Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office deputies, injuring two of them. Thilmont was arrested on a warrant Thursday,

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Illinois Man Charged With Four Felonies After Allegedly Fleeing Kenosha County Deputies At 119 MPH

Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) BRISTOL, Wis. — Lawrence D. Griffin Jr., 54, of Gurnee, Illinois, was charged Thursday with four felonies after prosecutors say he led Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a dangerous high-speed pursuit through the Village of Bristol and onto I-94, reaching approximately 119 mph while weaving through traffic and repeatedly driving into

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$40,000 Cash Bail Set For Kenosha Man Accused Of Stealing $47,000-Plus In Heavy Equipment

Leonard D. Taylor, 37, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 37-year-old Kenosha man accused of stealing a Caterpillar excavator and concrete breaker worth more than $47,000 was ordered held Friday on $40,000 cash bail. Kenosha County Circuit Court Commissioner Daniel “Catch & Release” Kellum set the unusually high bail for Leonard D. Taylor, who is charged with felony theft of

Pleasant Prairie Cold-Case Defendant Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Homicide by Negligent Handling of a Dangerous Weapon

KENOSHA, Wis. — Kevin R. Siler, 42, of Kenosha, was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison for homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon in connection with the 2019 shooting death of his friend, Joseph Christol, 35, inside Christol’s Pleasant Prairie home. Kenosha County Circuit Judge Jason Rossell sentenced Siler to five years of initial confinement followed by five years of

Kenosha Joins Abbott/Big Ten Blood Drive To Help Wisconsin Defend Title, Win $1 Million

KENOSHA, Wis. — The City of Kenosha is asking residents to roll up their sleeves and help the University of Wisconsin-Madison defend its championship in the Abbott and Big Ten Conference’s annual “We Give Blood Drive” competition, with a $1 million prize on the line for the winning university. The nationwide competition, now in its third year, combines Big Ten rivalry with an

Wanted Fugitives Ram Squad, Lead Deputies On Two Simultaneous High-Speed Pursuits Through Kenosha County: Video

KENOSHA, Wis. — Three suspects are behind bars after authorities say a confrontation near the Somers Walmart erupted into two simultaneous high-speed pursuits, with one suspect allegedly ramming a marked Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office squad and another crashing into an uninvolved vehicle. Ace Leo Frank, 34, of Elkhart, Indiana; Cody Luigi Frank, 22, of Hudson, Wisconsin; and Sable Russell, 34 were all taken

Federal Reversal on California Casino Raises New Questions for Kenosha’s Off-Reservation Project

KENOSHA, Wis. — The Menominee Tribe is hoping for a quick approval of its proposed Kenosha casino, but recent decisions by the U.S. Department of the Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs are raising new questions about how the federal government will approach off-reservation casino projects. The Department of the Interior recently withdrew approval for the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ California

Internet Troll, Career Criminal Gets Probation For Felony 4th OWI After .156 Breath Test

KENOSHA, Wis. — Matthew J. Mortensen, 49, of Burlington, an internet troll who Kenosha County Eye has seen trolling people across the internet and a repeat criminal offender with multiple prior convictions, was given probation Wednesday by Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge David Hughes for a felony fourth-offense OWI. Mortensen faced up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine on the

Kenosha, Milwaukee Police Unions Endorse Bryan Steil for Reelection

KENOSHA, Wis. — Congressman Bryan Steil has picked up endorsements from two major southeastern Wisconsin law enforcement organizations as he campaigns for reelection to Congress. The Kenosha Professional Police Association Board and Milwaukee Police Association announced their support for Steil, citing his record on law enforcement and public safety. “The men and women of law enforcement put their lives on the line every

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