"What's he doing in here? He's in uniform, on duty:" Documents show Zelich frequented strip clubs



WEST ALLIS (WITI) -- Personnel files released from West Allis Police Department detail numerous accusations against former West Allis police officer Steven Zelich. 52-year-old Zelich has been charged with two counts of hiding a corpse -- after the bodies of two women were found stuffed in suitcases in the Town of Geneva last month.

FOX6 News has tracked down a couple business owners who say they had concerns about Zelich more than a decade ago!

It wasn't the lights or the sparkly disco ball that drew Zelich to The Spot Lite Lounge time and time again.

"What's he doing in here? He's in uniform, on duty," Spot Lite owner Ed Bomback said.

Documents obtained by FOX6 News show Zelich came for the dancers -- and allegedly, he didn't just want to watch the show.

Records show some of the dancers told Zelich's supervisors at the West Allis Police Department he wouldn't leave them alone.

They told investigators they rejected Zelich's offers for dates.

Bomback says he was shocked when he realized Zelich is now a suspect in the murders of two women -- linked to bondage and sadomasochistic sex.

"Most guys will hit on somebody and if they don't get a decent response they back off. There's nothing for me. Apparently he didn't feel that way," Bomback said.

Zelich's personnel file from West Allis PD also shows an investigation surrounding his alleged stalking of a hairstylist at a West Allis hair salon. He's accused of pulling his squad car close to her car -- so she couldn't leave the parking lot.

"He boxed her in four or five times. it was probably about the fifth time we had the undercover here," Ruth Boneck with the Cut Loose Salon said.

It got so bad, Boneck told another West Allis officer about Zelich.

"When I went out to the fire escape, he was already walking up and I said 'excuse me Officer, can I help you with something? Is there a problem?' He was walking up the fire escape," Boneck said.

Boneck says she told Zelich to make an appointment -- and to use the front steps like everyone else.

After West Allis launched its own investigation into Zelich regarding the alleged stalking of hairstylists and exotic dancers, Boneck says she never saw Zelich again -- until his face made the news.

So far, Zelich only faces two counts of hiding a corpse out of Walworth County. He is set to stand trial in the case.

The bodies of 37-year-old Laura Simonson of Farmington, Minnesota, and 21-year-old Jenny Gamez of Oakridge, Oregon were found in suitcases in the Town of Geneva on June 5th.

Zelich was later arrested -- and according to the criminal complaint filed against him out of Walworth County, he has admitted to causing the deaths of both Simonson and Gamez.

A Walworth County detective has testified that Zelich told him he caused the deaths of Simonson and Gamez during rough sex -- and then put their bodies in suitcases that he hid for months before dumping them in the Town of Geneva.

Detective Jeffrey Recknagel says Zelich told him he killed the women accidentally after separate sexual encounters that were rough and included bondage.

"The first suitcase had an adult woman. She was naked. She had a gag-ball in her mouth that was attached to a collar," Recknagel said -- speaking of the suitcase in which Simonson's body was found.

The complaint against Zelich says Gamez was found partially concealed in garbage bags. Her hands were found bound with rope behind her back.

According to the criminal complaint, Zelich told police he met both women while chatting online.

Zelich told police he met Jenny Gamez in person in late 2012 or early 2013 in Kenosha County.

Zelich told officials he met Laura Simonson personally in Rochester, Minnesota in November of 2013.

"They spent days at the hotel. He participated in a BDSM session, and during that session, he ultimately took her life," Recknagel said.

In both cases, the complaint against Zelich says he told police he placed the bodies in suitcases -- taking them back to his West Allis apartment.

In May of 2001, Zelich's personnel files show a prostitute told police Zelich wouldn't let her out of a bedroom at his West Allis apartment. She says she heard the sound of handcuffs, and she said Zelich went ballistic.

The woman says Zelich body-slammed her to the floor and choked her.

The woman told police she thought she was going to die -- telling investigators she even asked Zelich if he was going to kill her.

The prostitute, who managed to escape, went to police and told them Zelich was "nuts."

That incident prompted Zelich's resignation from the West Allis Police Department.

Zelich writes in his resignation letter that he offered to resign so that charges would not be referred.

So why wasn't Zelich charged in connection with the incident in May of 2001? A source tells FOX6 News the alleged prostitute did not want to prosecute, and would not cooperate with authorities.

Zelich denied what she told them -- and police didn't believe they had a case against him.

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