Weekend OWI Arrests include a 5th Offense & a Felony Drug Arrest

On October 28 at 4:33 pm, officers were dispatched to the highway on the west side of the city for a report of an intoxicated driver leaving a gas station.  Officers located the vehicle pulling into the parking lot of Motel 57 and stopped the driver, a 37 year old male from Marinette.  Based on field sobriety tests, the driver showed impairment and was arrested for OWI 5th offense, a felony offense. During the processing of the OWI paperwork at the hospital, the driver became uncooperative, swearing and threatening to knock the officers out.  The driver was taken to the jail on the OWI charge, and also charged with disorderly conduct.


On October 28 at 11:40 pm, officers were dispatched to a hit and run accident on S 4th Ave.  Based on the description of the suspect vehicle, officers remained alert for the suspect, and located the vehicle at approximately 2:00 am.  The driver of the vehicle, a 28 year old male from Sturgeon Bay, was found to have been drinking, but the driver would not cooperate on field sobriety tests.  The driver was arrested for OWI 2nd offense.  Officers located open intoxicants, marijuana and a pipe inside the vehicle.  In addition to the OWI charge, the driver was issued citations for operating with a revoked drivers license, operating without insurance, hit and run, open intoxicants in a motor vehicle, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.  The driver was taken to jail.


On October 30 at 2:38 am, an officer on patrol in the downtown business district observed a vehicle accelerate rapidly leaving a parking lot, striking the curb.  As the vehicle continued driving, it crossed the center line.  A stop was made, and the officer detected the smell of alcohol and marijuana coming from the vehicle.  The back up officer observed the driver, a 40 year old male from Forestville, trying to conceal a pipe.  The driver failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for OWI 3rd offense.  In addition to the pipe, marijuana was found on the driver as well as in the vehicle.  The driver was taken to the jail on the OWI offense, and also charged with felony possession of THC (felony due to previous convictions for possession of marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Felony Drug Arrest

On October 24 at 10:45 am, police were dispatched to the field located behind Nor Door Spot on Egg Harbor Rd for a suspicious vehicle with kids possibly doing drugs.

Officers on scene found four males in the vehicle had been smoking marijuana, with the driver having a marijuana blunt still on his lap. Investigation found the driver, a 20 year old male from Milwaukee, was in possession of two bags of marijuana, with a combined total of 40 grams.  In addition, the driver was found to have a scale, small packaging bags and a calculator.  The driver was arrested and taken to jail on a felony charge of possession of THC with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The front seat passenger, an 18 year old male with addresses from Milwaukee and Sturgeon Bay, was arrested on a Probation Hold for violating his probation rules.  

One of the rear seat passengers was a 17 year old male from Sturgeon Bay who had been consuming alcohol.  He was cited for underage alcohol consumption and released to an adult.

The other rear seat passenger was a 14 year old male from Sturgeon Bay, who was transported back to High School and released to school officials.

SBPD Expresses Condolences to Rusk County Deputy

The Sturgeon Bay Police Department would like to extend our prayers and heartfelt sympathy to the family and co-workers of Rusk County Deputy Sheriff Dan Glaze, who gave the ultimate sacrifice on October 29, while serving and protecting the citizens of Rusk County.

"In valor there is hope." - Tacitus

Theft from Wal-Mart Digs A Deeper Hole for Suspect

On October 13, police were notified by Wal-Mart of retail theft case,  An unidentified female had stolen a couple boxes of diapers. The female was captured on store video.  The police were able to identify the female as a 23 year old from Sturgeon Bay, who was on probation and had an active felony criminal case that involved theft.

The suspect was evading police until October 24, when Wal-Mart reported the female had returned to their store.  Police arrested the female and took her to jail on a charge of retail theft and felony bail jumping.

Threat in Public Leads to Arrest

On October 25 at 12:13pm, police were dispatched to the Dancing Bear Toys on N 3rd Ave for a disorderly/suspicious male.  The male was gone on police arrival and it was reported the male had entered the store in a hyper and agitated state, wanting a lighter.  Upon leaving the store, the male remained in front of the store and loudly announced, "I'm going to kill me a Muslim."  This behavior alarmed and upset the store employee, who locked the front door and moved their customers to the back of the store.

Based on the description of the suspect, police were able to identify the male as a 40 year old male who is homeless, but lives in the Door County area.  Approximately 20 minutes prior to this call, the male had been removed by police from Bridgeport Resort for scaring and upsetting their guests.

Police located the suspect in the downtown area and arrested him for disorderly conduct and bail jumping, due to an open criminal court case.  The male was taken to the Door County Jail and booked in on the new criminal charges, and the case was referred to the DA's Office.  The suspect is also on probation and the WI Department of Corrections placed a probation hold on him.

Disturbance leads to citation

On October 23 at 12:08am, officers were dispatched to a fight at the Knights of Columbus building. On arrival, police found no active fight occurring, but identified one of the parities involved, a 34 year old male from Sturgeon Bay.  The male was intoxicated, had a torn shirt and was actively upset, yelling and screaming in the parking lot.  At first, the male was not cooperative with officer's, but became compliant after being handcuffed.

The other person involved was not located or identified by anyone at the scene.  The suspect detained was issued an ordinance citation for disorderly conduct and released to family members at the scene.

Domestic Arrest for Disorderly Conduct

On October 19 at 4:30pm, police were dispatched to a family fight at an apartment on the east side of the city.  An investigation revealed a 23 yr old male from Sturgeon Bay got upset at other occupants, calling them derogatory names and threatening to hit/kill one.  Police learned earlier in the week, the suspect had grabbed a female by the arm, causing a bruise/injury.

The male was arrested for disorderly conduct-domestic related.  The male was very irrational and agitated, and appeared to be suffering from a mental health episode.  The male was taken to the hospital and an evaluation done by a crisis worker determined for the suspects safety, he needed to be transported to a mental health facility.  The criminal case was referred to the DA's Office.

Domestic Arrest at Hotel

On October 23 at 12:46am, police were dispatched to Stone Harbor Resort for a domestic incident in a guest room.  Police determined a 21 yr old male from Minnesota was intoxicated and when he became upset at his mother, started to call her derogatory names.  The male than went after his father-in-law, who had tried to stop the name calling, slamming him into a door/wall.  The slam was hard enough to damage the door and wall, but the father-in-law was unhurt.  

The male was arrested for disorderly conduct-domestic related and criminal damage to property.  The male was taken to jail.  Restitution will be sought for the cost to repair the damage to the hotel room.    

Acid Trip Leads to Jail

On October 23 at 2:30am, police were dispatched to the 400 block of N 6th Ave for a suspicious/disorderly complaint for a male yelling and banging on a home's front door; the owner did not know the suspect.  When police arrived, they found the suspect, a 21 yr old male from Sturgeon Bay, laying on the sidewalk face down, screaming.  It was a cold night, but the male was wearing shorts and a t-shirt, and soaking wet, believed to be from sweating.  When the officers went to assist the male, he began screaming and swearing at officers.  The suspect was arrested for disorderly conduct and once in the back of the squad car, he began to bang his head on the squad cage, injuring himself.  The suspect was then transported to DCMC by ambulance for medical treatment for the injury and his admission he had taken acid.  

Further investigation found the suspect had broken the front door he was banging on.  The suspect was also out on felony bond conditions from another criminal cause.  Once medically stable and cleared, the suspect was taken to jail and charged with disorderly conduct, criminal damage to property and felony bail jumping.  

During a follow up interview, the suspect reported to have taken two hits of acid/LSD, but no other drugs.  The suspect did not remember most of the events that had transpired.  The suspect would not tell police how he obtained the acid.

OWI Arrests are Repeat Offenders

On October 23 around 11:00am, police received a complaint of an intoxicated driver on the west side of the city.  Police located and stopped the vehicle for a brake light out.  The driver was a 36 year old male from Sturgeon Bay, who smelled of alcohol and slurred his speech.  Field sobriety tests indicated the driver was impaired, and with an alcohol level over twice the legal limit of .08. The driver was arrested for his 4th offense OWI and booked into jail.

On October 15 at 11:23pm, officers were dispatched to Taco Bell for a disorderly complaint involving people arguing in the drive thru lane.  Upon investigating, police spoke to one of the driver's involved, a 64 year old male from Sturgeon Bay.  The driver had a strong odor of alcohol, with slurred speech.  The driver would not cooperate and complete the field sobriety tests and was arrested for 3rd offense OWI.  Upon searching the driver, marijuana was located on him, and there were open intoxicants in the vehicle.  In addition to the OWI charge, the driver was cited for possession of marijuana and open intoxicants.

On October 9, just after midnight, police were dispatched to a disturbance on N 5th Ave.  One of the parties involved had left prior to police arrival, but police located him in his vehicle downtown.  The driver, a 25 yr old male from Green Bay, smelled of alcohol and refused to complete any field sobriety testing.  The driver was arrested for 3rd offense OWI and operating with a revoked license.

Halloween is Monday, October 31, 2016. Trick or Treating hours will be from 4PM to 7PM.

We urge all who are trick or treating to follow some of these brief safety tips:

1. Be familiar with the neighborhood you trick or treat in. Go only to homes with a light on.
2. Go in pairs. There is safety in numbers.
3. Look both ways before crossing the street. 
4. Make sure your child's costume can be easily seen at night. Decorate it with reflective tape so motorists and others can easily see them.
5. Try to avoid having the child wear a mask with their costume or make sure the mask allows them to have a complete field of vision. Most masks limit the child's ability to see well and could be a factor in causing them to trip or run into low objects. 
6. Don’t eat candy that is not securely wrapped, or better yet, have a parent or older brother or sisters inspect the candy before eating it. 
7. Motorists please remember to watch out for frequent pedestrian traffic.

We hope everyone has a safe and "spooktacular" Halloween!