Sheriff: Waterford man stole power washer, snow blower from garage 'to support a drug habit'

RACINE COUNTY -- A Waterford man, 29, admitted to stealing a power washer and snow blower from a garage on Racine Street near Center Street "to support a drug habit."Sheriff's officials identified the man as Christopher Anstedt -- who was taken to jail on charges of burglary, recklessly endangering safety, criminal damage to property, felony bail jumping and misdemeanor bail jumping.

Burlington man arrested for 5th OWI after single-vehicle crash

VILLAGE OF ROCHESTER -- Racine County deputies were called to a single-vehicle crash just after 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23 near Highway 83 and Washington Avenue in the Village of Rochester.The caller stated that a vehicle left the road and hit a tree at a high rate of speed and that someone was possibly ejected from the vehicle.

Illinois man arrested for OWI, drug possession in Racine County; had narcotics 'in plain view'

RACINE COUNTY -- Racine County sheriff's deputies arrested an Illinois man Friday night, May 22 for operating while intoxicated; a search of his vehicle uncovered marijuana, oxycodone and other drugs.Authorities say the man -- a 57-year-old form Grayslake, Illinois -- stopped at the STH 11 offramp of southbound I-41 around 10:45 on Friday night after he was observed deviating from his lane and driving at varying speed between 45 and 60 mph in a 70 mph zone.While speaking with the man, deputies noted "obvious" signs of impairment and conducted a field sobriety test, which the man failed.

Sheriff: Kenosha County driver arrested for OWI struck barn 'occupied by numerous animals'

TOWN OF BURLINGTON -- A Kenosha County woman, 60, was arrested for OWI, first offense Thursday morning, May 21 after Racine County sheriff's officials said her vehicle struck a barn "occupied by numerous animals" in the Town of Burlington.Officials with the Racine County Sheriff's Office said a 911 call came in just after 7 a.m. regarding a reckless driver who "blew a stop sign" and was driving on the gravel shoulder in the area of Pine Street and Karcher Road in the Town of Burlington.As deputies were dispatched to the area, the caller provided an update -- indicating the reckless driver had struck a barn  near Pine Street and Schaal Road.A preliminary investigation revealed the woman was headed northbound on Pine when she crossed over the center line into oncoming traffic, left the roadway and proceeded through the culvert.

81-year-old in critical condition after he 'passed out' while driving, struck building in Racine County

TOWN OF NORWAY -- A man, 81, was taken to the hospital in critical condition after he "passed out" while driving and struck a building in the Town of Norway Wednesday, May 20, Racine County sheriff's officials said.The crash happened around 11:30 a.m. on Northcape Street near 124th Street.Sheriff's officials said a witness indicated the driver was unconscious and not breathing.

'She wanted to swim:' Browns Lake fishermen rescued woman 'barely treading water' 

BURLINGTON -- Two Browns Lake fishermen pulled a woman from the water Tuesday night, April 27, suffering from hypothermia after she reportedly indicated "she wanted to swim" across the lake.Racine County sheriff's officials said just after 8 p.m., a 911 call came in regarding the 26-year-old woman who was pulled out of the lake by two fishermen, who said they were taking her to their boat on Peninsula Drive.About a half hour earlier, a call came in regarding a suspicious vehicle on Caldwell Drive.

Sheriff: Man arrested at Burlington business made threats 'to shoot up the place'

RACINE COUNTY -- Officials with the Racine County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, April 2 identified a man accused of making threats "to shoot up" a Burlington business on Tuesday, March 31.The man was identified by sheriff's officials as Jakob Stolp, 37.Sheriff's officials said witnesses at the business reported Stolp threatened an active shooter incident at the business and said he would utilize explosive devices.Stolp, a convicted felon, also sent text messages to an employee which included photographs of firearms with personal threats, sheriff's officials said.He was arrested on Wednesday, April 1, and a search warrant was served at his home in the Town of Burlington.Sheriff's officials said investigators found numerous rounds of ammunition, 36 grams of marijuana, Tannerite, a fuse and a threaded steel pipe.Stolp was interviewed and admitted to sending the text messages and taking the photographs of the firearms in his backyard, sheriff's officials said.Stolp was being held on the following charges:

Driver arrested on drug charges after vehicle slammed into home in Town of Norway

RACINE COUNTY -- A 38-year-old driver was arrested on drug charges after his vehicle slammed into a house in the Town of Norway early Thursday, April 2.It happened on West View Drive near Long Lake Road in the Town of Norway in Racine County just after 1:30 a.m.Officials with the Racine County Sheriff's Office said when deputies arrived, the vehicle was resting against the front of the house, which had been pushed in as a result of the impact, and suffered some structural damage.There was a 16-year-old boy in a bedroom when the house was struck.

Racine County Sheriff's Office, volunteers make 2K+ masks for those battling COVID-19

RACINE -- A Racine County Sheriff’s Office-led effort to manufacture more personal protective equipment is resulting in the creation of 2,300 additional facemasks that can be used for local first responders, workers at long-term care facilities, and others on the front lines battling the COVID-19 outbreak.Beginning Friday, March 20, the sheriff’s office, with assistance from local volunteers, sewing groups, Sew ‘N Save of Racine, and personnel at the state Ellsworth Correctional Facility and Racine County Jail, began coordinating a large sewing project to produce home-sewn masks.

Prosecutors: Illinois man accused of reckless driving on I-94 said he's blind, 'God was guiding him'

RACINE COUNTY -- An Illinois driver accused in connection with a case of reckless driving on I-94 in Racine County on Friday, March 13 told investigators he's blind, "couldn't see," and "God was guiding him and showing him the way," according to prosecutors.Deputies responded to a report of a driver in a truck headed northbound on I-94 in excess of 100 miles per hour and swerving.The vehicle was spotted by a deputy at Mile Marker 333, at which point the criminal complaint said the driver swerved from the No. 2 lane to the median concrete barrier -- nearly hitting another driver, who had to "aggressively" hit the brakes in order to avoid a crash.

Cocaine, marijuana found in toddler’s diaper bag during traffic stop, 2 taken into custody

RACINE -- Two people were taken into custody early Friday morning, Feb. 28 after cocaine and marijuana were found inside their vehicle during a traffic stop in Racine.According to police, around 1:40 a.m. an officer conducted a traffic stop on Ohio Street near Republic Avenue.The deputy conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and recovered the following: