DCI identifies officer in fatal shooting (MADISON)
A Madison police officer who fatally shot a man is named. The state Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation oversees the investigation into the July 22 shooting of Corey Ruiz. DCI identifies the officer who fired the shots that killed the 38-year-old as Kiel Baitinger-Peterson, with 10 years and 10 months law enforcement experience. Baitinger-Peterson and three other officers located Ruiz after responding to a report of a person involved in checking parked vehicles and an “alleged burglary attempt.” According to DCI Ruiz became involved in a physical altercation with officers, during which he showed a fixed-blade knife and injured Baitinger-Peterson. Two other officers attempted to Taser Ruiz without success, according to investigators. Bystander video which has been widely circulated shows Ruiz being shot, and the shooting has been the subject of protests and a two week-long encampment which city officials cleared last week.
Four dead in weekend shootings in Milwaukee, Madison & Janesville (SE WISCONSIN)
Weekend gun violence takes four lives in southeastern Wisconsin. 26-year-old Vanessa DeHerrera and 29-year-old Scott Bucholz were fatally shot Saturday night in Milwaukee and have been identified by family members who have set up GoFundMe pages for each. Police have not said what led to the shooting but according to family on the Bucholz GoFundMe he was killed while “helping a friend during a domestic dispute.” Three people were wounded in two other separate shootings in Milwaukee Sunday. In Madison, police arrested a man on Sunday after he called 911 and admitted to being involved in a fatal shooting on the city’s north side Saturday night. And Janesville police are investigating a fatal shooting that took place early Sunday morning. Officers responding to a shots-fired incident found three victims, one of whom was later pronounced dead. Police believe those involved knew one another.
Gun range pulls down Flock Safety cameras after viral video pointed them out (CUDAHY)
A Cudahy gun range has pulled Flock Safety cameras from its property. The move came after a viral video pointing out the cameras at Eagle Sports Range hit social media last week. The person in the video wondering why Flock Safety was watching people coming into and out of the parking lot. Store manager Saad Jaber tells WISN TV they weren’t mad about the video, and pulled down the cameras themselves after asking Flock to do so. The company refused, saying they were there on contract. Jabar says Eagle Sports will rely on its own security cameras for now, and leave the Flock cameras disconnected in the stock room.
Last beagles to leave Ridglan Farms this week (BLUE MOUNDS)
The last beagles will be leaving a Dane County research farm this week. Blue Mounds-based Ridglan Farms will be transferring the last 155 animals on its property to Big Dog Rescue Ranch this week, which will effectively shut down the facility. Ridglan has been a target of animal rights groups for decades for the medical and chemical testing performed on the beagles in the facility and the breeding programs on site. The facility gave up its license to operate voluntarily this summer rather than face felony animal abuse charges.
Fire that destroyed Milwaukee elementary school ruled an accident (MILWAUKEE)
We now know what caused a massive fire that gutted a Milwaukee elementary school. Fire Chief Aaron Lipski says security footage shows the June 30th fire at Lincoln Avenue School was accidental, starting when rags soaked in cleaning chemicals ignited after being left a trash can. “Other rags on top of these act to confine the resulting heat, resulting in further increases in temperature and on and on it goes, ultimately resulting in spontaneous combustion.” Match that with windows and doors that had been left open to vent fumes from cleaning, and the fire rapidly spread until it was uncontrollable.