Sheriff's deputy arrested for leaving Tosa crash scene, even though he didn't cause collision
A Milwaukee County Sheriff's deputy was arrested this weekend in Wauwatosa after he fled the scene of a two-car collision late Saturday night.
According to the Wauwatosa police report:
A two-car crash was reported at 68th Street and Bluemound Road at 11:57 p.m. Saturday. Witnesses said one of the vehicles, a 2008 Toyota Rav 4, ran a red light as it was traveling west on Bluemound Road, striking the second vehicle, a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am, which was traveling north on 68th Street.
The force of the impact knocked both vehicles to the northwest corner of the intersection.
Witnesses said the driver of the Grand Am got out of his vehicle and fled on Crescent Court. The driver of the Rav 4, a 19-year-old Greenfield woman, sustained a minor injury to her wrist but did not require medical treatment at the scene.
» Read Full ArticleDine out for cystic fibrosis at local restaurants
Wauwatosa residents can eat out without a guilty conscience at the Dine Out for Cystic Fibrosis event taking place all day on May 15.
To participate, mention that you want to be a part of the "CF Dine Out Event" at one of the following restaurants: Leff's Lucky Town, Colonel Hart's, The Ruby Tap, Saz's or Yo Mama. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Wauwatosa police say tax return leads to stolen identity investigation
A case of stolen identity and a tip led to an investigation of Sbarro at Mayfair Mall, 2500 N. Mayfair Road.
According to the Wauwatosa police report:
A woman who had worked at Sbarro for one month in 2010 noticed a discrepancy in her taxes stopping her from filing. The IRS stated that her Social Security number was used to gain employment at Sbarro in 2012.
She thought it as odd because she was a stay-at-home mother for her 8-month-old all year.
She was told she needed to get a letter from Sbarro stating she wasn't employed in 2012 to properly file her taxes, but when she went down to the pizza shop, the manager wasn't being cooperative. She said he was "acting very weird and awkward," saying he didn't know anything about any letter.
» Read Full ArticleBomb plot uncovered at Wauwatosa East High School
Wauwatosa - Police thwarted an apparent graduation day bomb plot by two students at Wauwatosa East High School and investigated a threat written on a bathroom wall at Wauwatosa West High School.
The incidents happened days apart - the bathroom wall threat on April 24 and the bomb plot on April 27.
Two students were questioned but no one was in custody in the bomb plot on Saturday, said Police Sgt. Brian Skornia. He said the investigation was ongoing.
In notes to parents, the school district said the East students would "go through school and district procedures for disciplinary action." In a separate letter, Superintendent Phil Ertl said police were investigating the bathroom wall threat but that "at this time, we have no indication that this is a credible threat and school will be in session tomorrow."
Ertl said Saturday he "absolutely" took the bomb plot threat seriously.
» Read Full ArticleMusic line up for Tosa Tonight announced
The 13th annual Tosa Tonight summer concert series will offer a little bit of everything including classical, country, rock and blues music.
The free series, taking place from June 12 to Aug. 28, is adding an extra day of music to its six-concert schedule. Shows will start at 6 p.m. at the Rotary Performance Pavilion and will typically run until 9 p.m.
Throughout the series will be an Irish Fest sneak peak Aug. 14 with the bands Sprag Session and We Banjo 3. Trapper Shoepp & The Shades will headline the Yellow Phone Music Conference on July 10, which will feature many bands playing on a rotating lineup.
"I'm always looking to push the series to the next level with the next level of talent and variety," Tosa Tonight Executive Director Rick Bauer said. "We only have six concerts this year. We keep trying to expand the concert a little bit each year as we can. I always go off suggestions and different directions for people to go and we try to incorporate that over the years."
One suggestion was that the series add classical music. Bauer responded by adding the Intermezzo Ensemble. He's also heard suggestions to incorporate a children's variety day and hopes to add it in a future year.
» Read Full ArticleWauwatosa police open second investigation on priest
Wauwatosa police have launched a second investigation into a local priest who was removed from his posts at two parishes and schools for suspicion of inappropriate contact with children.
The department confirmed Monday that a new investigation of Father Robert Marsicek is ongoing but declined to provide additional information about the allegation.
Both the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and Marsicek's religious order, the Society of the Divine Savior, known as the Salvatorians, said they were unaware of a new probe. And the principal of Wauwatosa Catholic School, where an earlier allegation was raised, did not return a telephone call seeking comment.
Marsicek was suspended from ministry at St. Pius X Catholic Parish in Wauwatosa, Mother of Good Counsel Parish and School in Milwaukee and Wauwatosa Catholic School after a teacher at Wauwatosa Catholic reported in March that Marsicek inappropriately touched a young girl.
According to the police report, the teacher told detectives that Marsicek had squeezed the buttocks of a girl as she sat on his lap and held his hand on her thigh while whispering in her ear. In a forensic interview, the child also indicated that Marsicek had squeezed her breast area.
» Read Full ArticleMan tries to rob woman, exposes himself, Wauwatosa police say
A woman walking with her 5-year-old not only nearly had her purse stolen, but was asked to perform sexual acts on a man who exposed himself to her and her daughter April 30, according to a Wauwatosa police report.
Also from the report:
The woman was at the bus stop at 60th Street and North Avenue when she felt a tug on her purse. She turned around and saw a man standing there. She yelled at him, but the man was unfazed.
He sat next to her. "Do you drink?" he asked, pulling out a 24-ounce can of beer. She told him she didn't drink and held her child close, covering her eyes and ears.
The man asked her to perform a sex act next. She told him to leave.
» Read Full ArticleTosa police: Car stolen from lot had keys in ignition
Shortly after cleaning their 2008 Ford Focus, employees of Uptown Motors, 2111 N. Mayfair Road, got an unexpected surprise: a man jumped in it and drove away.
According to the Wauwatosa police report:
They left the car running with its keys in the ignition at 4:02 p.m. April 29. A silver Audi pulled up to it, and a man jumped out of the Audi and into the running Focus. He drove away.
Employees followed the two cars until the thieves decided to run a red light in an attempt to lose them.
When police ran the Audi's plates, it was discovered that it was stolen from Milwaukee earlier that day.
» Read Full ArticleExtended stay hotel planned for UWM Innovation Campus
An extended stay hotel is being proposed for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Innovation Campus development, in Wauwatosa.
The hotel, with up to 128 rooms, would be developed on 3.5 acres at Innovation Campus, which is north of W. Watertown Plank Road and east of Highway 45, according to a report filed with the County Board by Teig Whaley-Smith, county economic development director.
Innovation Park LLC, an affiliate of UWM Real Estate Foundation which is developing Innovation Campus, wants the board to change its development agreement with Milwaukee County to allow the hotel to be built, according to the report.
That request will likely be reviewed by the board's Committee on Economic and Community Development at its May 13 meeting. Whaley-Smith, who was appointed in April by County Executive Chris Abele, is recommending that request be approved.
The report doesn't mention the name of the hotel's prospective operator, or its franchise name. Nor does it provide information about the project's financing, and design.
» Read Full ArticleWauwatosa School Board lays out process to fill vacant seat
The Wauwatosa School Board met Thursday night to formulate a process by which to replace longtime member Lois Weber, who recently resigned after 37 years of service.
Four members were present for the meeting: Michael Meier, Tom Jarosz, Mary Jo Randall and Sharon Muehlfeld.
With input from Superintendent Phil Ertl, the board approved a complex motion that will allow them to evaluate and vote on candidates for the position at the next regular School Board meeting, May 13. The person appointed would fulfill Weber's current term, which ends in April 2014, and would face an election at that time.
After installing a candidate May 13, the board will take up its annual vote on officers, electing a president, a vice president, a clerk and a treasurer.
Those seeking consideration for the School Board seat are to submit a written, signed Notice of Interest to Ertl, along with an introductory letter, a resume and letters of recommendation. Seven paper copies of each document are required, and the material will be treated as non-confidential public documents.
» Read Full ArticleTosa police: Women conned into check cashing scam
Two Wauwatosa women learned to be wary of easy money and casual acquaintances after they were involved in what they told police was a check-cashing scheme that cost them thousands of dollars. They came to the police station at 7:54 p.m. April 23 to report that they had been had.
According to the Wauwatosa police report:
The women, 20 and 21, were given an offer by an acquaintance to get fast money. The acquaintance told them all they had to do was cash checks for them and they would get a portion of the money.
They cashed three checks for the acquaintances: one for $3,000 for which they got $500, another for $4,000 for which they got $400, and a third for $6,000 that they didn't get any money for.
Throughout the experience, which led them to different banks and credit unions for each check cashed, the two asked their acquaintance if what they were doing was legal. They were told not to worry and that everything was legitimate.
» Read Full ArticleDrunken driver had 6-year-old son in car, Wauwatosa police say
A 47-year-old Milwaukee man allegedly drank a pint of vodka before and while driving, leading to his arrest at 5 p.m. April 23. Wauwatosa police say he had a blood-alcohol content of 0.30, and that his 6-year-old son was in the car.
According to the Wauwatosa police report:
The man was called in after drivers saw him weaving into the center lane at 74th Street and Washington Avenue. He was pulled over after police saw him make a U-turn over the median on Wisconsin Avenue.
Police found that his license had been revoked for drunken driving.
He admitted to having a drinking problem and that he shouldn't have been driving.
Wauwatosa bike and pedestrian committee seeks input at open house Wednesday
The city panel studying a new bike and pedestrian plan is holding an open house Wednesday, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Fire Station No. 1, 1601 Underwood Ave.
After a couple of meetings, including one last week, the bicycle and pedestrian plan steering committee is seeking input on what the community would like to see in a route system for cyclists and those who walk.
The Wednesday meeting will include a brief presentation at 6:30, and will feature maps and stations that address different aspects of the plan.
The committee is refining a vision and set of goals for residents, including creating a "bicycle and pedestrian friendly community" that encourages alternative methods of transportation, said Kevin Hardman, executive director of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. Hardman, a Wauwatosa resident, has led the steering committee meetings.
Goals of the proposal include building on the network of trails and bike lanes to connect neighborhoods, schools, parks, businesses, and bike and pedestrian networks of surrounding communities, according to draft documents from the committee's work provided by the city's consultant, Toole Design Group, and the Wisconsin Bike Fed.
» Read Full ArticleAttendance optional at Wauwatosa West High School after bomb threat
A bomb threat written on a bathroom wall has made classes optional at Wauwatosa West High School today, said school spokesperson Dan Chanen.
The threat was written late Tuesday, prompting Superintendent Phil Ertl to send an email and phone message to parents letting them know of the scare and informing them that attending classes would be optional.
The message said there was no immediate threat to public safety.
Wauwatosa police said they conducted bag searches at the door and have increased their presence at the school.
Wauwatosa police: Drunken driver burns rubber in front of officer three times
It was three burnouts and you're out for a 59-year-old Milwaukee man when he was arrested for drunken driving, fifth offense, at 2:17 a.m. April 22.
According to the Wauwatosa police report:
An officer was following the man down Milwaukee Avenue when he accelerated after the stop sign at Wauwatosa Avenue, burning rubber. The officer followed him as he straddled the center line and drove 15 to 20 mph over the speed limit. He spun his tires at Harwood Avenue and 68th Street as well.
When the officer pulled him over, the man profusely apologized for speeding. He refused a breath test and blood draw results are pending.
Numerous complaints made against suspended Wauwatosa priest, report shows
The Wauwatosa Catholic priest suspended after a teacher reported what she considered sexually inappropriate contact with a child has been the subject of numerous complaints by parents and others over the years, according to a Wauwatosa police report.
Father Robert Marsicek, who is also under investigation in Sacramento, Calif., had been repeatedly counseled by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and his religious order, the Society of the Divine Savior, about "boundary issues" and was told to stop hugging and touching children.
In one case, a mother reported that Marsicek touched her daughter's genitalia through her clothes, but the case was not turned over to police, and there appears to be no record of it at the archdiocese or the religious order known as the Salvatorians.
Marsicek, who served at St. Pius X Parish in Wauwatosa and Mother of Good Counsel in Milwaukee, has been on leave since March 28 after a Wauwatosa Catholic School teacher reported what she considered inappropriate contact with a young child.
According to the police report, the teacher told detectives that on separate occasions she saw Marsicek squeeze the buttocks of the child who was sitting, facing him, on his lap and hold his hand on the child's upper thigh "near her private parts" while whispering in her ear.
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