(Kenosha County Sheriff)
KENOSHA, Wis. – A 29-year-old Kenosha man is facing six criminal charges after police say he caused a disturbance at a local bar, exposed himself in an emergency room, and kicked a police officer during an altercation at the hospital.
Joseph M. Cerone was charged Thursday in Kenosha County Circuit Court with battery to a law enforcement officer, lewd and lascivious behavior, resisting an officer, misdemeanor bail jumping, and two counts of disorderly conduct.
According to the criminal complaint, Kenosha police responded to Paddy O’s Pub on the night of May 28 after the bartender reported Cerone had been ejected from the bar for throwing a chair and a traffic cone. The bartender told officers she had locked the bar doors out of concern for safety.
Police later located Cerone outside a nearby gas station. Officers noted he was intoxicated, unsteady, and slurring his speech. Cerone told police he had been singing at the bar and claimed the bartender threw out his drink. He also mentioned that he was “brain damaged.”
After speaking with his probation agent—Cerone was already out on bond for a separate case involving drug and resisting charges—officers took him into custody. The complaint states that while being searched, Cerone became uncooperative and intentionally dropped his weight to the ground, requiring multiple officers to restrain him.
Cerone was taken to St. Catherine’s Hospital, where officers say he continued to act out. At one point, while handcuffed to a hospital bed, Cerone allegedly pulled down his pants, exposed himself, and threatened to urinate on the ER floor. As officers intervened, he allegedly kicked one of them in the back and shoulder, knocking the officer’s glasses off and causing pain and a minor injury.
Hospital staff eventually placed Cerone in four-point restraints due to his continued aggressive and profane behavior.
The incident also led to a bail jumping charge, as Cerone was prohibited from consuming alcohol under the terms of his bond in a pending misdemeanor case.
Cerone’s bail was set at $10,000 cash by Kenosha County Circuit Court Commissioner William Michel II.
If convicted on all counts, Cerone faces more than eight years behind bars.
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4 Responses
Mom would be proud
We’ve all had similar nights 🤣
Brain damage? He nailed it!
I live in the duplex below him. He was hit by a car when he was a kid and has long term brain damage from it. He had probes put in his brain about 3 years ago to try and stop daily seizures with minimal success. We often hear him fall upstairs and and aid him until he has regained full awareness.
The cops already know this about him and enjoy escalating encounters with him for fun and the ability to abuse their powers. His original detainments started after getting seizures in public places while sober. When he regains consciousness he is very confused and therefore very combative. Again, the cops already know this about him and seize the opportunity to physically and mentally assault him. I can not stress enough the fact that the KPD already know Joe and his condition.
No he should not be drinking, but he has severe brain damage and absolutely no help from the government or his community
other than me and his parents, who do everything they can to help him. He’s alone. He cannot make reasonable decisions on his own.
Over all, yes he does have “brain damage.” The quotations around it were used in the article were to belittle him and his terrible situation; chalked up to just another Kenosha drunk. I feel so bad for Joe. He needs help and the community has gone the other way.
Shame on the Kenosha Police for torturing this poor soul.