News – June 13, 2019

(Beaver Dam) A Beaver Dam woman was charged yesterday (Wednesday) with Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Vehicle after the car she was reportedly driving went off Madison Street Bridge and into the Beaver Dam River which resulted in the death of a passenger. Authorities were dispatched to the area near Ryan Cantafio’s Way, behind Park Plaza Pizza, at 1:52am on April 2nd. Cindy Lara-Esparza sustained non-life-threatening injuries but her 23-year-old boyfriend, Jared Frakes, was killed. Both Lara-Esparza and Frakes were reportedly drinking at Johnny’s Lounge the night of the accident. A blood draw from Lara-Esparza allegedly returned a result of point-two-one-two (.212). If convicted on both charges, the 23-year-old faces no more than 50 years in prison. An initial appearance is scheduled for June 24.

 

(Westpoint) A Madison man was arrested for his 8th OWI following a hit-and-run outside of Lodi. Around 11am Tuesday, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office received a report that a vehicle collided with a legally parked car along Rausch Road in the Township of West Point. Ronald Garske allegedly attempted to flee the scene but did not make it far because his vehicle stopped working a short distance later. The 54-year-old was taken into custody by a Columbia County Sheriff’s deputy and was charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence 8th Offense. The incident remains under investigation by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

 

(Lomira) A three-day jury trial began yesterday (Wednesday) for a Milwaukee man who is charged in connection with the assault and robbery of a truck driver at a wayside in Lomira. Keenan Brown is facing two felony charges of Robbery with Use of Force and Substantial Battery. Following jury selection, opening arguments were made and witnesses where called including Dodge County Sheriff’s Detective Andrew Rolfs to testify about the incident that occurred in September of 2017. Brown and second individual allegedly stole the victim’s wallet, cell phone and roughly $90 dollars in loose change. Authorities sent the victim’s clothing in for testing which allegedly came back positive with DNA from Brown who denied any involvement in the attack. If convicted, 24-year-old faces up to 18-and-a-half years in prison.

 

(Lomira) A Lomira man accused of burglarizing his former home was arraigned yesterday (Wednesday). Nathan Braunschweig entered a not guilty plea to charges of felony Burglary, Transfer of Encumbered Property, Theft of Movable Property and Criminal Damage to Property all as a Party to a Crime. Nathan’s mother, Barbara, is also facing similar charges for her alleged role in the crime. A bank in Fond du Lac purchased the property at public auction and informed law enforcement that the Braunschweig’s could only be there if a representative of the bank was present.  Through a confidential informant, the deputy was able to track sales of metal scrap pieces at a local recycling company that allegedly listed Nathan on the receipt. If convicted on all charges, Nathan and Barbara face up to 28 years in prison.

 

(Mayville) An area in Mayville will be without the services of a tornado siren until next month. The siren located on Breckenridge and Wisconsin was struck by lightning in early May and will not be operational again until late July. Police Chief Jim Ketchem says if a tornado is imminent the department will send more squad cars and coordinate with other local emergency services to help get the warning out. He suggests residents stay tuned to their radios and televisions for alerts and keep an ear out for the city’s other tornado sirens.

 

(Grand Junction, Colorado) The Patriot Tour is in Montana this week. The nationwide journey sees a series of flag-bearers carry one American flag by motorcycle, city-to-city, raising money for veterans. In the past week, the ride moved out of Colorado, after a stop at the Western Slope Vietnam Memorial of Grand Junction. Neil Webster, who has been the coordinator of the Grand Junction stop since the beginning, says he is proud to be involved with the effort and its mission to provide support to veterans in need. The ride is ending the week traveling through Washington and Idaho. The flag departed Beaver Dam last month and is due back in September. The Patriot Tour is hoping to surpass the one-million-dollar mark in money raised in the past decade.