Homes evacuated: Driver slams into natural gas line near We Energies facility
RACINE (WITI) -- Racine County Sheriff's officials say speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in a crash in which a 21-year-old driver went through a fence, and slammed into a natural gas line.It happened on Monday, May 26th just after 8:00 p.m. at the intersection of State Highway 20 and Honey Creek Road in the Town of Waterford.Sheriff's officials say a single vehicle, driven by a 21-year-old woman went through a fence surrounding a We Energies main line gas junction station -- and slammed into a natural gas line -- breaking it open, and venting natural gas into the air.The driver was apparently trapped in the vehicle.The first deputy on scene determined that the gas line struck was a high pressure gas line -- and the area needed to be evacuated.That same deputy was able to pull the driver out of the vehicle and carry her to safety.She was the only person in the vehicle -- and is said to have sustained head injuries.
SLOW DOWN!: Another motorcyclist clocked at triple-digit speeds on I-94 in Racine County
RACINE COUNTY (WITI) -- One day after FOX6 News learned a Milwaukee man -- who is about to turn 23 years old, has been charged -- accuse of hitting 119 miles-per-hour on a motorcycle in a construction zone in Racine County -- FOX6 News sat with a Racine County Sheriff's deputy as he clocked drivers on the stretch of I-94.
City of Kenosha officials under the microscope, Racine investigates
RACINE CO. (WITI) -- The Racine County Sheriff's Office has launched an investigation into Kenosha City Officials.Sources confirm that the Sheriff's Office started this investigation about two weeks ago.
Off-road accident: Woman killed in motorcycle crash
RACINE (WITI) --Racine County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred Sunday, May 11th in the Village of Caledonia.According to officials, the accident involved a single, off-road-style motorcycle.At the time of the crash, the motorcycle was being operated in an off-road environment.The operator, a 21-year-old female, was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Critical condition: Authorities pull man from Root River
TOWN OF RAYMOND (WITI) -- Racine County authorities pulled a 25-year-old man from the Root River behind a residence located on 8 Mile Rd.
BUSTED: Task force aimed at taking pedophiles off the street makes arrest
RACINE (WITI) -- A Racine man is busted for child porn -- and he's just the latest in a string of arrests involving the internet and children in Racine County.Goold Street in Racine is lined with manicured lawns and quaint homes, but there is one home in particular that stands out to neighbors."It`s a very unsettling feeling and it makes me really nervous now," one neighbor told FOX6 News.Authorities say a man who lives in a home on Goold Street -- identified as 35-year-old Jacob Bierer illegally downloaded child pornography "for years."According to a criminal complaint against him, Bierer told investigators he would get drunk, download child porn and then delete it.Neighbors say what's alarming to them is the fact that Bierer lives just steps away from an elementary school."Especially having a younger child, it makes me concerned," a neighbor said."These particular cases are very disturbing," Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said.In recent months, the Racine County Sheriff's Office has created a special task force with the intent of catching people using the internet as a weapon against kids."We have pedophiles out there who are looking at preying on our children and these are the individuals who we are literally targeting and arresting," Schmaling said.They are arrests neighbors are glad to see."You always think that it can`t happen in my neighborhood or that happens in other people`s neighborhoods, or it happens on TV, but apparently, we can`t take that approach anymore," a neighbor said.Bierer is being held in the Racine County Jail.If he is convicted, he faces 25 years in prison.
BUSTED: What deputies found on an 18-year-old man arrested for OWI
RACINE COUNTY (WITI) -- Racine County Sheriff's officials say an 18-year-old man from Rochester, Wisconsin was arrested on Monday, April 28th after deputies found heroin, syringes and pills on him following a traffic stop.
One dead after early morning motorcycle crash in Racine County
RACINE CO. (WITI) -- The Racine County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene of a one vehicle motorcycle accident during the early morning hours of Sunday, April 20th.The crash happened around 2:45 a.m. on Hill Valley Rd.
Man arrested for attempted sexual activity with minor
RACINE (WITI) -- On Friday evening, April 18th Racine County Sheriff's Investigators arrested a 51-year-old man for attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor.Racine County Sheriff’s Investigators conducted an undercover operation that involved 51-year-old Mark Lentz, a Dane County resident who was engaging in sexually explicit conversations with a subject he believed was a 15-year-old male."I'm very proud of the commitment and hard work my investigative team brings to these very intense and challenging cases.
Review of OWI incident involving Racine Co. D.A. complete
RACINE (WITI) -- Racine County Sheriff's officials say an external administrative review has been completed in the weekend incident involving Racine County District Attorney Rich Chiapete -- and the actions of law enforcement personnel were appropriate.Chiapete was cited for OWI and hit-and-run on Friday night, April 4th.
Racine Co. Sheriff's officials say family dispute led to high-speed chase
RACINE COUNTY (WITI) -- Racine County Sheriff's officials say a domestic dispute led to a high-speed chase on Monday afternoon, April 7th.Deputies were dispatched to a report of family trouble in the Village of Rochester just after 3:30 p.m.Upon arriving at the scene, deputies observed a vehicle leaving the residence at a high rate of speed -- and a man running after the vehicle.Sheriff's officials say the man running after the vehicle told officials his son stole it.Deputies located the vehicle on County Highway D and a traffic stop was initiated on County Highway DD.The deputy approached the suspect vehicle -- and that's when Sheriff's officials say the vehicle took off at a high rate of speed.A pursuit ensued -- reaching speeds up to 100 miles-per-hour.The pursuit was terminated, and the vehicle was located back at the original residence a few moments later.Once back at the residence, officials say the driver of the pursued vehicle fled into a wooded area to the west of the residence and was taken into custody without incident after a short foot pursuit.He was transported to the Racine County Jail where he is being held on Domestic Abuse Disorderly Conduct, Fleeing and Eluding an Officer, Obstructing an Officer, Resisting Arrest and numerous traffic citations.
Arrest made in 1997 slaying of 14-year-old Amber Creek
RACINE (AP) — Racine County Sheriff's deputies may have finally solved a cold-case mystery involving the slaying of an Illinois teen 17 years ago.Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling emailed The Journal Times of Racine Saturday, April 5th saying his deputies have arrested a 36-year-old Illinois man.Schmaling says he has "solid, clear and overwhelming evidence" that the suspect was responsible for the death of Amber Creek.
Racine Co. Sheriff's officials say driver cited for second OWI after crash
TOWN OF DOVER (WITI) -- Racine County Sheriff's officials say a driver was cited for OWI (second offense) following a crash early Saturday morning, April 6th.Racine County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the area of State Highway 11 and State Highway 75 in the Town of Dover just before 2:30 a.m. on Saturday.There, they found a vehicle that had been in an accident.
Racine Co. Sheriff's officials arrest 44-year-old man in sex sting
RACINE (WITI) -- Racine County Sheriff's officials have announced the arrest of a 44-year-old Lake County, Illinois resident whom they say was engaging in sexually explicit conversations with a subject he believed to be a 15-year-old boy.The man was arrested on Friday, April 4th.Racine County Sheriff's officials say through the course of the operation, the suspect made arrangements to meet with the juvenile in order to engage in sexual activity.The man traveled to a pre-designated location where he believed he was meeting the juvenile and was subsequently taken into custody by Sheriff’s investigators."I'm very proud of the commitment and hard work my investigative team brings to these very intense and challenging cases.
Detective in Racine Co. hunts down, prosecutes sexual predators
RACINE (WITI) -- One investigator in Racine County has the sole job of tracking down sexual predators in the newly created Internet Crimes Against Children position."It's our mission to target them, to literally hunt them down, and to arrest them," said Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling.Last week, the detective assigned to that position found an internet posting on Craigslist from 50-year-old Ronald Niehus -- in the personals section.
66-year-old Waterford man accused of sexual assault of special needs child
TOWN OF WATERFORD (WITI) -- 66-year-old Wayne Stade of Waterford faces one count of sexual assault of a child under age 12 -- a felony charge.The incident occurred on Friday, March 28th, 2014 at a home in the Town of Waterford.A criminal complaint says a Racine County Sheriff's deputy was dispatched to the home.
Racine Co. Sheriff's officials seek suspect after pursuit Monday afternoon
RACINE (WITI) -- Racine County Sheriff's officials are seeking a suspect following a pursuit on Monday afternoon, March 31st.A Sheriff's deputy made a traffic stop on Monday afternoon, around 12:40 p.m. on I-94 northbound near County Highway G.
Racine Co. Sheriff's deputies help to extinguish stove fire
RACINE (WITI) -- Racine County Sheriff's deputies were able to assist in extinguishing a stove fire on Sunday, March 30th.Racine County Communications Dept.
Waukesha man crashes car after high-speed chase in Racine Co.
RACINE COUNTY (WITI) -- Racine County Sheriff's officials on Wednesday, March 19th responded to a crash that occurred on the off-ramp from northbound I-94 to 27th Street in Racine County.Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling says it all started with a driver traveling at a high rate of speed (95 mph) on I-94.