(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
SOMERS, Wis. — Say the name Carl Kirkorian in the Somers community, and many longtime residents know exactly who you’re talking about. The 67-year-old former flooring company owner has become a familiar and controversial figure in local politics and public affairs, with some community members describing him as a “maniac” because of his frequent outbursts, confrontational behavior, and tendency to antagonize others. Now, those outbursts appear to have finally caught up with him. Kirkorian is facing three criminal charges after authorities say he verbally attacked a woman sitting in her parked car, created a disturbance that drew neighbors from their homes, and threatened to have a Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputy fired and thrown in jail. Kirkorian allegedly boasted that he was friends with Sheriff David W. Zoerner, had the sheriff’s personal telephone number, and could use his connections to make life miserable for the deputy.
(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
Kenosha County Eye spoke directly with Sheriff Zoerner, who unequivocally rejected Kirkorian’s claims of influence over his department. Zoerner said he knows of Kirkorian and believes he was a volunteer firefighter with the Somers Fire Department many years ago, but has not spoken with him in quite some time. The sheriff made clear that Kirkorian would not be able to have the deputy fired or arrested, nor would the criminal charges be dropped at his request.
Kenosha County Eye has also spoken with several of the deputy’s coworkers, who described him as a hardworking, well-respected member of the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office. Those coworkers said the deputy has no history of disciplinary problems and enjoys a positive reputation among his colleagues.
Kirkorian was charged Wednesday, October 21, with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, possession of THC, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Court Commissioner Daniel E. “Catch & Release” Kellum set $350 cash bail during Kirkorian’s initial appearance Thursday afternoon, and court records indicate the bail was posted.
Woman Says She Was Terrified
According to a five-page criminal complaint filed by Assistant District Attorney Anthony Schmitz, Kenosha County Sheriff’s Deputies Nowak and Kearney responded to the 500 block of 9th Place in Somers at approximately 11:26 a.m. on September 24 for a report of a suspicious vehicle. The woman had pulled over along the public street and was looking at her cellphone when the confrontation began.
The woman told investigators she had been parked for approximately three to five minutes when Kirkorian pulled into his driveway, began pointing at her, and unleashed a profanity-laced tirade. He allegedly called her a “f*****g idiot” and accused her of having a suspicious vehicle, despite having no evidence that she was committing any crime.
The woman told deputies she was terrified by Kirkorian’s behavior and felt unable to exit her vehicle. She moved farther down the street to distance herself from him, but the confrontation was far from over.
According to the complaint, another resident, Jennifer N. Fifer, emerged from a nearby home carrying a garden hose and sprayed water toward the woman’s vehicle. The woman reported that water entered her partially open window, soaking her sweater and Coach handbag.
Deputy Nowak reviewed cellphone video showing Fifer spraying water toward the vehicle from approximately 30 feet away. Fifer told deputies she had actually been spraying bees or wasps near a tree and that any water reaching the vehicle was accidental. Deputies observed bee traps and numerous wasps in the area, although Nowak noted that the timing of her decision to use the hose was difficult to explain.
Fifer offered to apologize, but the woman declined and requested charges against both individuals. After consulting with a supervisor, Deputy Nowak issued Fifer a disorderly conduct citation.
Name-Dropping, Boasting About Connections And Threatening A Deputy
As deputies attempted to investigate what should have been a relatively routine complaint, Kirkorian allegedly turned the encounter into a spectacle. Deputy Nowak reported that Kirkorian was yelling so loudly that multiple neighbors emerged from their homes to see what was happening.
Deputy Kearney reported that Kirkorian immediately confronted him for responding to the scene using an emergency response. Kirkorian demanded that the woman be arrested and became increasingly agitated when Kearney attempted to gather information rather than comply with his demands.
Kirkorian claimed the woman had been photographing homes and suggested she might be gathering information to facilitate burglaries. He even speculated that she was collecting information so her boyfriend or husband could break into neighboring homes, an accusation the deputy described as completely unfounded.
When Kearney attempted to obtain Kirkorian’s version of events, Kirkorian allegedly called him a “Cocky Son of a Bitch” and began launching personal insults. He threatened to have Kearney fired and claimed he would personally see to it that the deputy spent time in jail.
But Kirkorian wasn’t finished name-dropping.
According to the criminal complaint, Kirkorian repeatedly boasted about his supposed connections and accomplishments rather than answer the deputy’s questions. He claimed to personally know Sheriff Zoerner, possess the sheriff’s private telephone number, and be attempting to call him to complain about how long deputies took to respond.
Kirkorian also brought up a park honoring a fallen sheriff’s deputy, telling Kearney that he was responsible for the park. The deputy noted that Kirkorian apparently considered this accomplishment relevant to the investigation, despite its having nothing to do with the woman sitting in her car or the disturbance that brought deputies to the neighborhood.
Kirkorian further claimed that he knew how to do the deputy’s job because he had watched police work on television. He also invoked his claimed past position as a lieutenant with the Somers Fire Department, apparently believing that his firefighting background and familiarity with law enforcement entitled him to challenge the deputies’ handling of the incident.
The repeated references to the sheriff, a fallen deputy’s memorial park, his alleged firefighting rank, and his knowledge of police work did little to advance the investigation. Deputy Kearney wrote that Kirkorian provided almost no meaningful statement about the supposed suspicious activity, instead repeatedly raising his voice, insulting the deputy, and making threats about his career and freedom.
Sheriff Zoerner Rejects Claims Of Influence
Kenosha County Eye contacted Sheriff David W. Zoerner regarding Kirkorian’s claims of a personal relationship and his threats to have deputies fired or jailed. The sheriff acknowledged knowing of Kirkorian but said the two have not spoken in quite some time.
Zoerner said he believed Kirkorian had served as a Somers volunteer firefighter many years ago. However, the sheriff was unequivocal that Kirkorian’s suggestions that he could have deputies fired at his request or arrange for charges to be dismissed were false.
The deputy targeted by Kirkorian’s threats, meanwhile, is described by several coworkers who spoke with Kenosha County Eye as a dedicated and hardworking law enforcement officer. Those coworkers said he is well respected within the department and has no disciplinary history.
Deputies Arrest Kirkorian, Discover Marijuana And Pipe
Deputy Kearney eventually determined that Kirkorian’s escalating behavior warranted placing him under arrest for disorderly conduct. Deputies carefully handcuffed Kirkorian because he was wearing a cast on his right wrist, although he reportedly refused to explain the injury and told the deputy it was none of his business.
Even after being taken into custody, Kirkorian allegedly continued insulting Deputy Kearney and insisting that the deputy would be arrested. During a subsequent search, deputies discovered a metal pipe containing burned green leafy material in Kirkorian’s right pocket.
Kirkorian reportedly told deputies he had found the pipe outside. Deputies also recovered a white pill bottle containing green leafy material and a small canister of pepper spray from his clothing.
According to the complaint, the leafy substance and pill bottle, without its lid, weighed a combined 12.01 grams. The substance tested positive for THC using a field testing kit, resulting in two additional criminal charges.
Judge Denies Request To Seal Victim Identification Document
The criminal case was filed October 21 in Kenosha County Circuit Court and assigned to Judge David O. Hughes. Prosecutors also filed a motion seeking to seal a victim identification key, a document used to identify individuals whose names may otherwise be abbreviated in publicly accessible criminal complaints.
On October 22, Hughes denied the motion to seal the document. The publicly available court docket does not provide the judge’s detailed reasoning for the decision.
Kirkorian appeared before Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum that afternoon, where the court found probable cause, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, and set $350 cash bail. Conditions prohibit Kirkorian from possessing or consuming alcohol, possessing or consuming controlled substances without a prescription, possessing drug paraphernalia, and having contact with the individual identified in the court’s bail conditions.
Kirkorian is scheduled to return to court for a pretrial conference on November 13, 2026, at 1:45 p.m., followed by a final pretrial hearing before Judge Hughes on December 10 at 8:30 a.m.
If convicted of all three charges, Kirkorian faces a combined maximum of nine months in jail and $2,500 in fines, although actual sentencing would depend on the disposition of the case.
