News 08.24.16
24 August 2016 News
A Neenah man is arrested and looking to face six counts of armed robbery in connection with a rash of burglaries in the Fox Valley. On June 17th, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office along with Neenah and Village of Fox Crossing Police executed a search warrant at the home of 24-year-old Phillip Thomas. At that time, Thomas was taken into custody for a probation violation and has remained in custody during the investigation into the robberies. Between police investigations, witnesses and tips, police were able to tie Thomas to robberies in Neenah at the BP Gas Station on Commercial Street, the Neenah BP Station on County Highway O, and the Bay Area Citgo on Main Street, along with a robbery at the BB Convenience Center on American Drive in the Village of Fox Crossing. All the robberies happened between May 26th and June 16th. Police are still investigating another robbery at the BB Convenience Center from June 2nd. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Village of Fox Crossing Police Department.
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The Fond du Lac County District Attorneys Office is considering retrying Dennis Brantner for the cold case murder of Berit Beck but the defense argues that would amount to double jeopardy. Milwaukee defense lawyer Craig Powell asked Fond du Lac Judge Gary Sharpe last week to issue an acquittal and bar the prosecution from re-trying Brantner. On June 29, Sharpe declared a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the trial of the Kenosha truck driver. He had been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Beck, a Sturtevant teenager who disappeared in July 1990 while driving to Appleton for a work-related seminar.
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A Milwaukee man accused of breaking a 3-month-old baby’s leg and lacerating the baby’s trachea pleads not guilty to charges against him. Forty-two year old Andrew Freeman entered the plea Monday in Dodge County Circuit Court. He’s facing one count of child abuse- intentionally causing great bodily harm. Last October, the child was brought to the emergency room at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac with an injury to the throat. Surgery was needed as the laceration was allowing air to leak into the child’s chest cavity. The 3-month-old was transferred to Children’s Hospital where doctors discovered a broken leg. The infant’s mother told authorities that she had left her child in the care of his father, who was identified as Freeman. A scheduling conference has been set for August 26th.
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A federal appeals court says early voting in Wisconsin can continue. U.S. District Judge James Peterson in July struck down a host of Wisconsin’s election laws, including limits on early voting. He also ordered the state to quickly issue credentials valid for voting for anyone struggling to obtain photo ID. Peterson granted state attorneys’ request to stay the photo ID credentials, noting the state already has a receipt system in place. But he refused to stay other parts of his ruling. State attorneys turned to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court to stay the rest of Peterson’s ruling. A three-judge panel from that court denied the stay request on Monday. That means Peterson’s decision allowing expanded early voting hours stands. The State Justice Department has not commented.
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A drone that flew over Lambeau Field during the Green Bay Packers game last week is confiscated in a federal investigation. Officials say it’s against the law to fly a drone over the stadium because of the potential for danger. Green Bay Police Commander Paul Ebel says the drone could malfunction and crash into the crowd, or worse, it could contain a bomb. Police tracked the drone to a house across the street from the stadium and says the drone operator has been cooperative. Ebel says police have been in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration, which will continue to investigate. Police say the operator apparently didn’t intend any harm, but could still be charged depending on what the FAA finds.
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The latest survey of Minnesota’s wolf population estimates a slight increase. The Department of Natural Resource says the annual survey ticked upward to 2,278 wolves. That’s about 50 more than last year’s estimate. Great Lakes wolves went off the endangered species list in 2012, and Minnesota soon allowed annual wolf hunts. But the animal went on the federal threatened list in 2014, and no hunt was held last winter. That makes this the first survey since hunts were suspended. The DNR says the newest number isn’t a significant change. Dan Stark, the agency’s large carnivore specialist, says it shows the wolf population is healthy and stable.
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