Kenosha Co. sheriff meets with NAACP, issues apology for comments after arrest of 5 in Premium Outlet theft

KENOSHA COUNTY -- Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth on Monday, Jan. 29 issued a letter to apologize for some comments he made to the media in the aftermath of an incident in which five people were arrested following the theft of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from the Tommy Hilfiger store at Prime Outlet Mall in Pleasant Prairie on Jan. 24. The suspects were taken into custody after a pursuit ended in a crash that totaled a vehicle driven by a 16-year-old boy who was leaving the DMV after passing his driving test and receiving his license.

Some feared his comments sounded racist.

"It was offensive. Yes," Veronica King, president of the NAACP Kenosha said. "He deviated and started talking about warehousing offenders and making statements like 'men who get 10 different women pregnant' and making statements like 'I bet if I looked at their school records they didn't finish school.'"

In his letter of apology, Sheriff Beth noted that he was very bothered by the fact that "if timing was only a few feet different," this could've been much more serious, and he was reminded that his own daughter who had recently received her driver's license would've traveled the same route on her way home.

Sheriff Beth said he met with members of the Kenosha NAACP, and he said "even though my comments were not meant to offend people, I can see how they may have."

He went on to say he plans to work with lawmakers in Madison "to strengthen penalties for those that break the law."

Below is Sheriff Beth's letter issued Monday:

Below is what Sheriff Beth had to say to FOX6 News on Thursday, Jan. 25 -- the day after the five arrests following the Prime Outlet Mall theft:

Veronica King said she told Sheriff Beth the apology is a good first step towards a better relationship between law enforcement and the community. She said she's planning a panel discussion in the future.

Prosecutors say it was more than $4,000 worth of stolen merchandise that was recovered from the suspect vehicle following the pursuit Wednesday, Jan. 24. Five people were taken into custody after the retail theft from the Tommy Hilfiger store in the Premium Outlet Mall.

In an update on Friday, Jan. 26, Kenosha County sheriff's officials said they've been contacted by numerous other law enforcement agencies due to similar crimes in their jurisdictions -- and the suspects in this case are believed to have stolen $33,000 worth of items out of Illinois.

According to authorities, at approximately 4:17 p.m. on Jan. 24, Pleasant Prairie police notified the Kenosha County Sheriff's Office about a retail theft that happened at the Tommy Hilfiger store.

Police advised that the suspect vehicle was a silver Pontiac and was last seen heading northbound from the mall.

A Kenosha County deputy observed the vehicle driving north on I-94 near State Highway 158 and attempted to stop this car.  The Pontiac exited the freeway and drove east on County Highway  S.  The Pontiac accelerated, trying to elude the deputy -- reaching speeds of more than 100 miles-per-hour.

The Pontiac failed to stop for the red traffic signal at County Highway H -- causing a crash with two other vehicles.  The occupants of those two vehicles were not injured in this crash.

The five occupants of the Pontiac exited and began running east on County Highway S.  With the assistance of Pleasant Prairie police, Kenosha police and other assisting deputies, all five suspects were apprehended.

Two of the suspects were treated and released for minor injuries. A search of the suspect vehicle uncovered more than $4,000 worth of stolen merchandise.

Sheriff Beth noted that one of the vehicles involved in the crash with the suspect vehicle was driven by a 16-year-old boy who passed his driving test moments prior -- and had just received his license. He was driving from the DMV when the crash happened. His vehicle was totaled.

The suspects range in age from 16 to 23. All are from Milwaukee. A criminal complaint notes the suspect vehicle was "filled floor to ceiling with clothing products," and there was Nike and Pink products "spilling out of the trunk."

Kenosha County sheriff's officials identified them as: Eugene Scull, 19, Sandra Smith, 20, Kevion Thompson, 18 and Wanda Winslow, 23.

All four were in court for their initial appearances Thursday.

Cash bond was set at follows:

Scull: $15,000
Smith: $30,000
Thompson: $15,000
Winslow: $20,000

They're each due back in court on Feb. 2 for their preliminary hearings.

They are *not* the wanted members of the "Paper Team" crew accused in connection with 20+ crimes involving the theft of stolen merchandise in two months across SE Wisconsin.