Chief Mike Koval (WRN file photo)
Two men have been arrested in connection with a shooting incident that Madison police say resulted from a drug deal gone wrong. The shots were fired Tuesday afternoon inside an apartment on Madison’s east side.
Police said 58-year-old Rickey Jones was arrested in connection to that crime that same day. Twenty-year-old Earl Galtney was arrested Wednesday afternoon. Madison Police Chief Mike Koval said the city’s latest incident of gun violence turned out to be connected to gang activity.
On Thursday, Koval revealed that Galtney’s gang activity dates back to 2011. Police have been keeping a close eye on him — and a sergeant with the MPD gang unit said officers have even tried to convince him to leave that lifestyle.
“I’m euphoric to say that he is off the streets,” Koval said. “This guy is so reckless that I don’t know who was going to hurt next.” Sergeant Brian Chaney Austin with MPD’s Gang Unit said, “We have roughly about 200 that the gang unit is currently monitoring.”
Chief Koval says too many residents don’t realize that Madison is faced with big city problems. “Some of our community is in abject denial,” he said. “The sooner we acknowledge the problem the sooner we are on our steps to recovery.”
Koval also had a message for gang members. “We’re tired of you folks. We want to work with you, but if you’re not going with the flow then you’re going to have to deal with the MPD every step of the way. We’re not messing around here.”
WIBA