Milwaukee County DA: Darrell Brooks' bail 'mistake' by assistant

From Fox6Now:

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm said a young assistant district attorney made a mistake in setting the $1,000 bail that allowed 39-year-old Darrell Brooks Jr. to go free days before the Waukesha Christmas parade attack.

Chisholm spoke to reporters Thursday for the first time since the attack happened.

"I’m not here to make excuses. I own any decision that’s made by any member of my office," Chisholm said.

For the past 14 years, Chisholm has served as Milwaukee County’s top prosecutor.

"When I first ran in 2007, l made a promise to the community to identify people by risk," said Chisholm.

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm

When an assistant district attorney charged Brooks with his second violent felony in two years, she failed to even look at his pretrial risk assessment because, Chisholm said, she was overloaded with other cases.

"You had a young ADA trying to do the very best she could under difficult circumstances, and she made a mistake," Chisholm said.

The district attorney’s comments came after he appeared before a Milwaukee County board committee, which included one county supervisor – Patti Logsdon – whose granddaughter is still in intensive care after Brooks’ SUV into her dance troupe.

"It’s been difficult," said Logsdon. "We need to be aggressive.This has to stop."

Logsdon is one of the supervisors who called Chisholm before the committee Thursday. FOX6 Investigators asked Logsdon: Should Chisholm pay a price?

"We’re all human. We all make decisions that we regret," Logsdon said. "I do think that he should be accountable."

Darrell Brooks Jr.

Chisholm brushed aside calls for his resignation.

"When things get tough, when tough things occur, the response shouldn’t be to quit, to run away from the problem. The obligation I have is to lead my people so they can continuing doing the work they do every single day, which is trying to keep people safe," he said.

Public comment was not allowed during the county board committee meeting, which was held via Zoom – a change from usual practice.

From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/milwaukee-county-da-speaks-after-darrell-brooks-fallout

Open Blog - Friday

 Yes.

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Racine County man arrested for allegedly abusing infant son

From TMJ4:

Photo by: (Source: Pixabay)

(Source: Pixabay)

By: TMJ4 Web Staff

Posted at 3:49 PM, Dec 01, 2021

 

and last updated 3:49 PM, Dec 01, 2021

RACINE COUNTY, wis. — A 22-year-old Racine County man was arrested after allegedly causing several injuries to his infant son.

The Racine County Sheriff's Office responded to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin for a report of child abuse on Tuesday. Police say the infant's mother reported that her infant had fresh injuries to his forehead. The infant was less than two months old.

Medical staff located bruising, an arm fracture, a skull fracture, and several rib fractures, according to police. Staff said some injuries were in varying stages of healing and others appeared fresh.

The infant was admitted to Children's and is expected to make a full recovery, officials say.

The Racine County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Bureau interviewed both parents. The father, a 22-year-old man, admitted to causing some of the injuries. To protect the privacy of the victim, police are not identifying the suspect.

The suspect was arrested and is being held on a $74,000 cash bail at the Racine County Jail.

Police say the following charges were recommended to the Racine County District Attorney's Office:

• Physical Abuse of Child: Recklessly Cause Great Bodily Harm: 3 counts

From: https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/racine-county-man-arrested-for-allegedly-abusing-infant-son

Impaired driver causes crash with injuries: Racine Co. Sheriff's Office

From Fox6Now:

DOVER, Wis. - The Racine County Sheriff's Office says a 30-year-old man from Salem caused a two-vehicle crash – and that he was impaired at the time of the incident. The suspect is identified by officials as Adam Mejia.

Officials say on Tuesday evening, Nov. 30, deputies located the crash at the intersection of Plank Road and Highway 75 in Dover. A red Ford had severe front-end damage with full airbag deployment. A red Pontiac sustained severe rear-end damage with no airbag deployment. There were no other passengers in either vehicle.

A witness told authorities he was driving eastbound on Plank Road behind the red Ford – and observed the vehicle speeding and deviating outside of its lane of travel. The witness stated when the red Ford approached the stop sign at Hwy 75, the vehicle did not stop or even slow down prior to rear-ending the stopped red Pontiac.  

The operator of the offending vehicle, the red Ford, was identified as Mejia. The operator of the stopped vehicle, the red Pontiac, was a 70-year-old man from Beloit.

Adam Mejia

Deputies contacted the operators of both vehicles, who were walking outside of their vehicles, and complaining of minor injuries. Deputies requested EMS to respond to the scene to provide medical aid.

Investigators say Mejia was displaying signs of impairment, and he admitted to drinking intoxicants while driving. A small bottle of Smirnoff vodka was later located in the driver’s door pocket, officials say.  

The deputies had Mejia perform the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, and Mejia did not successfully perform the tests – so they placed him under arrest.

Deputies transported Mejia to the Racine County Jail where he was issued multiple citations and is being held on a $10,000 cash bail. The following charges were referred to the Racine County District Attorney’s Office:

• Operating while intoxicated, 4th offense
• Operating while intoxicated, causing injury

From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/impaired-driver-causes-crash-with-injuries-racine-co-sheriffs-office

Waukesha Christmas Parade suspect speaks, his mother issues statement

From Fox6Now:

WAUKESHA, Wis. - FOX6 News has learned much more about the man arrested and charged for plowing an SUV through the Waukesha Christmas Parade route on Sunday, Nov. 21. Six people have died from their injuries in the incident – dozens more were hurt.

Now, the suspect, Darrell Brooks Jr., and his mother are speaking out separately on the tragedy.

The charges against Brooks all carry a life sentence. FOX6 News has learned the vehicle used in the attack belonged to his mother. Brooks also had a suspended license. 

Darrell Brooks initial appearance in Waukesha County court

On Wednesday, Dec. 1, Brooks spoke for the first time from his jail cell exclusively to FOX News Digital, telling two reporters he was being dehumanized and demonized. He said his mother had not visited him, but the two are very close.

Days before the attack, Brooks was arrested in Milwaukee County for attempting to run over the mother of his child. He was released on $1,000 bail. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm called the amount "inappropriately low." The bail amount is now under investigation.

Brooks' mother issues statement

Meanwhile, FOX6 News has learned Brooks was driving with a suspended license – and the SUV used in both attacks is owned by his mother, Dawn Woods. She is also the one who bailed him out the first time.

Multiple efforts to speak with Woods have been unsuccessful. But according to published reports, Woods sent a letter to some media outlets asking for space while also giving her condolences to the families of those killed and injured. Woods expressed sadness, saying her family's hearts are "torn to pieces" over what happened. She said her son suffered from mental illness all his life. Woods went on to say the system is broken. She said she is not making excuses, but her family believes what happened was a result of her son "not having the help and resources he needed."

Wood did not address the low bail amount, the extent of his previous crimes, or Brooks driving her vehicle with a suspended license.

Brooks is being held on a $5 million bond. He did not tell FOX News Digital the motive for his actions.

From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/waukesha-christmas-parade-suspect-speaks-his-mother-issues-statement

Open Blog - Thursday

 And yesterday was Wednesday, so today must be . . . .?

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Officer fired over Rittenhouse donation wants his job back

From JSOnline:

NORFOLK, Va. – A former Virginia police officer who was fired after donating to a defense fund for Kyle Rittenhouse wants his job back now that a Wisconsin jury acquitted the young man of murder during protests against police brutality last year.

Norfolk officials fired former police Lt. William Kelly in April for violating policy by using his work email to donate $25 to a Rittenhouse defense fund. But now Kelly wants to be reinstated, news outlets reported.

News organizations including The Virginian-Pilot reported that they had obtained data from a Christian crowdfunding website that was hacked, apparently showing an initially anonymous $25 donation to Rittenhouse’s legal defense fund was linked to Kelly’s work email address.

The donation carried the comment: “God bless. Thank you for your courage. Keep your head up. You’ve done nothing wrong,” the newspaper reported.

Rittenhouse was ultimately acquitted of murder after fatally shooting two men and wounding another at protests in Kenosha.

Kelly’s lawyer, Ray Hogge Jr., told WVEC-TV that although Kelly used his work email to donate and comment, he did not violate any department policy.

“Bill Kelly has first amendment, freedom of speech rights, which have to be honored,” Hogge said.

Kelly hopes his appeal will enable him to wear the badge again.

“Every American has the right to make comments like that and make donations to causes that they support,” Kelly told WAVY-TV. “The fact that I’m a police officer doesn’t deprive me of that right.”

Hogge said his office plans to have discussions with police department officials; they said they wouldn’t comment on a personnel matter.

From: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2021/11/30/virginia-officer-fired-over-rittenhouse-donation-wants-his-job-back/8816689002/

Christmas tree shortage in Southeast Wisconsin

From TMJ4:

By: James Groh

Posted at 5:21 PM, Nov 30, 2021

 

and last updated 5:21 PM, Nov 30, 2021

WEST BEND, Wis. — If you want a cut-your-own Christmas tree, you better act fast. Christmas tree farms are seeing an unprecedented demand this holiday season.

“First weekend was extremely busy. I'll say Friday was the busiest I’ve ever seen in my life here. We actually had 155 cars on the road that came in our tree lot in 20 minutes," Dean Fechter, the owner of Christmas on Indian Lore in West Bend, said.

Fechter had to increase the number of cut-your-own trees available this year from 750 to more than 1,000.

James Groh

Christmas on Indian Lore has about 30,000 Christmas trees on the property but only 1,000 can be harvested this year.

There are a few reasons this is happening. According to the National and American Christmas Tree Associations, there is a shortage due to an increased demand, climate change, and more people are buying trees early.

“Unprecedented weather events in the Pacific Northwest, including fires, drought, and heat waves, have impacted live Christmas tree crop yields, with some Oregon farmers reporting losing up to 90 percent of their crop this summer," the American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA) said.

This demand is something that was also prevalent in 2020.

"After taking the pulse of what growers experienced, which had been gathered by the National Christmas Tree Association board of directors representing state and regional grower associations across the country, we found that Christmas tree sales in 2020 occurred earlier. Sales grew at a more rapid pace and available inventories sold out in many cases," the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) said.

James Groh

Cut-your-own Christmas trees are in such high demand that some Wisconsin lots have already sold out for the season.

Fechter also has his own reasons. He said he has noticed more young families buying real trees. Plus, many of the longtime Christmas tree farmers are beginning to retire.

"The average Christmas tree farmer is 70 to 80-years-old in a lot of cases," Fechter said. “I can say within 25 miles of this location over the last six, seven years a 60 year business went out, 50, 35 and other ones. So that added pressure comes on to facilities.”

More business is great, but not always easy to keep up with. Despite having 25,000 to 30,000 trees on his farm, Fechter said that only some are ready to be cut down. Christmas on Indian Lore only allows trees that are 10 to 14 years old to be harvested. That means it's a years long wait until new inventory is available. Seemingly, this problem could persist for a few more years given these circumstances.

While working on this story, I reached out to multiple different Christmas tree farms. Many declined an interview given that they couldn't handle the extra attention with an already high demand.

Poplar Creek Tree Farm in New Berlin posted on its Facebook page saying that it had already sold out of trees.

This is something that the ACTA warned of in September stating, "In 2020, 94 million U.S. households celebrated Christmas by displaying a Christmas tree in their home. Of those trees, 85% were artificial, and 15% were live. Despite expectations of similar consumer demand in 2021, the Christmas tree industry could experience a shortage of both artificial and live trees."

Christmas trees are rising in price too.

"The economic instability caused by COVID-19 and the impacts of extreme weather have affected all parts of the global and U.S. supply chain, and Christmas trees are no exception. These challenges mean that there will be fewer live and artificial Christmas trees available this year, and those that are available will cost more than before," the ACTA said.

James Groh

However, Frecht said that his trees are relatively cheap. His cut-your-own trees cost around $45 to $65. He said considering the work and years long investment that goes into each tree, that's a fair price.

"We hand plant everyone. We hand fertilize every tree every year to get them to grow greener," he said.

Frecht hopes that he can avoid these issues in the future, though. He plans on having about 5,000 trees ready for harvest in the coming years.

But until then, act fast if you want to cut down your own tree. Otherwise, they might all be gone.

From: https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/christmas-tree-shortage-in-southeast-wisconsin

WATCH: Car with driver still inside gets dragged by semi on I-294 in Cook County

From TMJ4:

Photo by: Grzesiek Misiek

Video shows semi-truck dragging vehicle on I-294 with driver still inside.

By: TMJ4 Web Staff

Posted at 7:40 PM, Nov 30, 2021

 

and last updated 10:28 PM, Nov 30, 2021

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — A car with the driver still inside was dragged on the Tri-State Tollway by a semi on Tuesday and a man caught the incident on camera.

Illinois State Police say the incident happened around 11:40 a.m. on Interstate 294 northbound in Cook County near milepost 30.25.

The video shows a car stuck sideways being dragged on the side of a semi-truck.

The driver was inside the vehicle, according to the man who shot the video. You can see the driver wave out the window halfway through the video.

According to police, no injuries were reported. Lanes 3 and 4 of I-294 near the scene were closed for investigation. All lanes reopened around noon.

You can watch the video below:

From: https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/watch-car-with-driver-still-inside-gets-dragged-by-semi-on-i-294-in-cook-county

Darrell Brooks freed on bail before parade, no record of hearing

From Fox6Now:

WAUKESHA, Wis. - Darrell Brooks was freed from jail on $1,000 bail in Milwaukee County just days before the Waukesha Christmas parade on Nov. 21, where prosecutors say he careened his SUV through the route, killing six and injuring more than 60. FOX6 News has learned key details of that early November court hearing have been lost forever.

Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm called the bail his office recommended for Brooks just days before the parade "inappropriately low," so why did Court Commissioner Cedric Cornwall go along with it?

FOX6 wanted to know, so we asked for a transcript of the hearing and learned it doesn't exist.

"We saw this coming," said Jackie Rupnow, Wisconsin Court Reporters Association.

Sixteen days before the Waukesha Christmas parade, Brooks was in court in Milwaukee County, accused of running over the mother of his child in his Ford Escape. Despite a pretrial risk assessment that said he was very high risk for committing a new crime, Cornwall set his bail at $1,000.

Why? We may never know.

Darrell Brooks Jr.

"It’s crucial, and now, there’s no record of it," said Rupnow.

Supreme Court rules say every court hearing should be recorded word-for-word by a certified court reporter or a digital audio recording device, but when the FOX6 Investigators asked for a recording of Brooks' Nov. 5 bail hearing, a court administrator told us, "There are no recordings" due to "technical issues."

"Well, it’s very frustrating," said State Rep. Scott Allen (R-Waukesha). "It’s sort of unbelievable in many respects."

Darrell Brooks 

Allen said hearings like this are too important to lose.

"There ought to be some built-in redundancies when it comes to protecting the public," said Allen.

"There are instances where it happens," said Rupnow.

Rupnow, past president of the Wisconsin Court Reporters Association, said they warned the Supreme Court two years ago that digital recordings should be closely monitored by trained professionals and the Supreme Court disregarded the warning.

"Unfortunately, it was just a matter of time before something like this was going to happen," said Rupnow.

FOX6 News asked District Court Administrator Holly Szablewski what she meant by "technical issues" and how often something like this happens. She did not respond to those questions. The bottom line is that any word-for-word account of what happened the day Brooks was set free has been lost for good.

From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/darrell-brooks-freed-on-bond-before-parade-no-record-of-hearing

Open Blog - Wednesday

 Hap-happy.

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Open Blog - Tuesday

And good afternoon, too.

Talking Racine Episode 254 Lakeview Park, RUSD, Middletown Ohio

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Open Blog - Monday

 Boo-hoo!

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Kenosha man killed in head-on crash, 2 others hurt

From Fox6Now:

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. - A Kenosha man, 52, was killed in a crash that left two others with severe injuries in the Village of Somers in Kenosha County Friday, Nov. 26.

Sheriff's officials said around 4 p.m., the Kenosha man was headed north on Green Bay Road in Somers in a Subaru Forester when he crossed over the curbed median into the southbound lanes, striking a Lincoln Navigator.

The Kenosha man was taken to the hospital by Flight for Life but later died as a result of his injuries.

The two people in the Navigator, a 35-year-old man who was driving and his 26-year-old female passenger, were taken to the hospital with severe injuries, but they are expected to survive.

From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/kenosha-man-killed-in-head-on-crash-2-others-hurt

Abandoned Spaces

 A cool site to explore:

https://www.abandonedspaces.com/