GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay woman is facing several drug-related charges after getting caught with meth while sitting in a car.

19-year-old Betheny Ann Walstrom is charged with six counts, including being party to possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, party to possession of narcotic drugs and extradition - arrest prior to requisition.

According to the criminal complaint, Green Bay police officers went to the Kwik Trip store in the 1700 block of E. Mason Street around 1 a.m. on February 19. One of the officers noticed a yellow Chevrolet Cavalier with a gray stripe painted along the bottom of the vehicle near the front entrance. 

Inside that car was a man and a woman sitting. About 15 minutes later, the officers were dispatched to a welfare check on Imperial Lane. Leaving the store, the car was now parked several spots away in the same lot.

The car did not have a front license plate, and officers ran the rear license plate and found that the registered owner was a woman who lives in Appleton. Another officer also noticed the man had put a backpack in the truck of the car before they left the parking lot.

Further investigation of the vehicle found that it had been stopped previously by the Brown County Sheriff's Department and the man driving had been associated with prior drug use.

A short time later while their squad car was parked across from the Blackstone restaurant to monitor traffic, the officers spotted the same car pulling into the Kwik Trip parking lot and again parking. This time, the cops followed them and noticed the man putting a second backpack in the trunk. 

Both people inside the car were identified and asked to get out of the car. The woman was identified as Betheny Walstrom. A pit bull also inside the car was removed. The officers noticed an orange glass pipe in the center console of the car, along with a fixed blade knife about 8-inches long on the floorboard.

A K-9 unit was called in and the dog sniffed for drugs. The K-9 indicated heavily in the back of the vehicle.

Upon searching the car, the orange glass pipe had a clear white glass-like residue in the stem of the pipe. There were also several used syringes in the backseat, along with a red biohazard container with a clear white top commonly used to dispose of needles in hospitals that was about half-full.

A black purse was also found, which contained several used needles and a gray sunglass case. Inside that case were, "Several designer gem baggies that had a clear and cloudy glass-like substance." That substance tested out to be methamphetamine weighing 2.41 grams.

Several packaged pills were also found and those were identified as Buprenorphine Hydrochloride and Naloxone Hydrochloride, Clonazepam, Acetaminophen and Oxycodone, and Morphine Sulfate extended release tablets.

Betheny Walstrom is due back in Brown County court on March 30 for an extradition hearing and arraignment. If convicted on all charges, Walstrom faces about 20 years in prison.

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay police are searching for a man who was involved in a domestic disturbance Wednesday.

Authorities say they were called to a home at 915 S. Oakland Avenue for a physical altercation between a man and woman just after 2:30 p.m.

Officers arrived to find a 25-year-old woman, who stabbed 26-year-old Antonio Hoskins in the hand. Hoskins fled the scene.

Hoskins is not believed to be a danger to the community and schools were placed on lockdown so officers could check the area.

If you have any information about his whereabouts, please contact the Green Bay Police Department at (920) 448-3208. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime stoppers at 920-432-STOP (7867). You may also submit a tip online at 432stop.com.

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - One man is being praised as a Good Samaritan after he saves a young woman from jumping off an area bridge.

Green Bay police say Robert Vine was driving over the Leo Frigo Bridge Tuesday, when he saw the 18-year-old along the girders holding a teddy bear.

Chad Hooyman is Vine's friend and says that what he did this week, is true to his nature.

"He had no fear up there, so he was able to just react to the situation and take care of it."

Vine, who's an iron worker, was used to the heights and didn't think twice about helping the woman.

Captain Kevin Warych says Vine was in the right place at the right time and is a hero.

"Robert put himself in harms way," Warych states. "An officer climbing over put himself in harms way to engage the female, talk to her and basically negotiate her safety back onto the roadway to get her some help."

In video of the rescue, you can see Vine grab the woman's ankle and pull her to safety.

Marinette, WI (WTAQ) - Gov. Scott Walker is scheduled to sign eight bills into law Thursday that aim to decrease prescription drug abuse and heroin addiction in Wisconsin.

The measures are part of what State Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, calls the HOPE Agenda (Heroin, Opiate, Prevention and Education). The Legislature passed the bills this fall and winter with bipartisan support.

Here is a description of each bill from Nygren's office:

2015-16 Assembly Bill 364: Changes the requirement for those who dispense certain prescription drugs to submit information to the PDMP from 7 days to 24 hours. It will also require a practitioner to review a patient's record when initially prescribing a monitored prescription drug (for example, a Schedule II drug).

2015-16 Assembly Bill 365: States that when law enforcement encounters an inappropriate use or an infraction of the law concerning scheduled drugs, they upload that information into the PDMP and have the PDMP notify the physician. There are exceptions for on-going investigations.

2015-16 Assembly Bill 366: Gives the Department of Health Services (DHS) oversight over the operation of pain management clinics across the state. The department's oversight would not be regulatory, but would be a way of providing safeguards so "pill mills" don't pop up in our state.

2015-16 Assembly Bill 367: Requires methadone clinics to gather data such as staffing ratios, the number of patients receiving behavioral health services with the medication, and average mileage an individual is traveling to come to a clinic. This information will then be reported to DHS on an annual basis to give public health and treatment professionals a chance to analyze outcome data.

2015-16 Assembly Bill 658: Criminalizes the use, possession, manufacture, distribution, and advertisement of any substance or device that is intended to defraud, circumvent, interfere with, or provide a substitute for a bodily fluid in conjunction with a lawfully administered drug test. Given that many employers subject their employees to lawfully administered drug tests, this bill will help ensure that people are not defrauding or interfering with the test results.

2015-16 Assembly Bill 659: State regulations regarding opioid treatment programs are much more stringent than federal regulations. In order to afford more people accessibility to the treatment they need, this bill streamlines Wisconsin's state regulations to align with federal regulations. With these changes, more Wisconsinites will be able to have access to opioid treatment.

2015-16 Assembly Bill 660: Allows a number of medical-affiliated boards under the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) to issue guidelines regarding best practices in prescribing controlled substances. These best practices will help reduce instances of overprescribing and, in turn, lessen prescription opioid misuse, abuse, and addiction.

2015-16 Assembly Bill 766: Creates reporting requirements for the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). The data collected will be reviewed and evaluated by the Controlled Substances Board (CSB) to determine the effectiveness of the PDMP and to compare actual outcomes with projected outcomes.

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Green Bay, WI (WTAQ) - There will be OWI TF deployments in Brown, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan Counties this evening in conjunction with the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.

Manitowoc and Sheboygan will be HVEE deployments, meaning High Visibility Enforcement and Education. Deployments in these two counties will include both enforcement and officers making pre-deployment visits to local taverns.

During these visits officers will engage bar staff regarding the dangers of drinking and driving and that patrons should take a safe ride home.

They will also disperse promotional materials like coasters which include a QR code which links to DOT’s Zero in Wisconsin app. This app allows users to contact local taxis, giving users names and numbers of taxis in that area. In addition, the Choose Your Ride vehicle will be placed in a prominent location in Manitowoc today and will be displayed at this location throughout the weekend.

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OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - The suspect who allegedly triggered a standoff with police and fired at two officers did not have his arraignment as scheduled Thursday.

Brian Flatoff faces 16 counts, including three of attempted homicide, for the Dec. 5 incident at Eagle Nation Cycles in Neenah.

Flatoff's arraignment was delayed because he requested a new attorney. The arraignment was rescheduled for Monday.

Flatoff is also charged with taking hostages, false imprisonment, and an additional count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to online court records.

One man, M.L. Funk, was shot and killed by police officers during the incident. Flatoff is charged with felony murder for Funk's death, as the death was allegedly triggered by Flatoff's crime of false imprisonment, the complaint states.

The state Dept. of Criminal Investigation is reviewing the actions of police officers at the scene.

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UNDATED (WTAQ) - The state Department of Health Services says more people have died with infections caused by Elizabethkingia bacteria.

Seventeen deaths have been reported since the outbreak began in November. Two more deaths since last week.

Dr. Michael Landrum is an Infectious Disease Specialist with Bellin Health and says there are many unanswered questions at this time.

"The big question is where is it coming from and right now they're still doing investigations to determine that."

Although doctors and scientists are having a hard time figuring out how it's spreading, they do know some aspects about the bacteria.

"It is treatable," Landrum states. "It's predominately affecting those folks who have chronic medical problems and perhaps are even what we call immune suppressed."

The symptoms of the blood infection include high fevers, fatigue, and weakness.

The bacteria outbreak, that's only affecting the state of Wisconsin at this point, started in November 2015.

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Earlier this week residents of Green Bay got a change to get to know their local law enforcement a little bit better.

The Green Bay Police Department invited the community to have "Coffee with a Cop" at Kavarna Coffeehouse, 143 N. Broadway Street, on Wednesday morning.

Police Chief Andrew Smith was there and says the event is about building trust.

"I think all the different communities that we have here in Green Bay need to know that they can trust the police officers. As I've said before, we need to as a police department and as a city, build that trust, build that bank of trust so to speak."

Eric Craver works in Green Bay and was was glad that he showed up to the event.

"This is a great opportunity to talk with police officers and laugh with them and share a cup of coffee...just get to know them a little bit as people."

About a dozen community officers took part in this national initiative that started about four years ago in the area.

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Town of Scott, WI (WTAQ) - Crews sent out to battle a house fire on Edgewater Beach Road, which is in the Town of Scott.  

This is along the waters of Green Bay in Brown County.  

The fire broke out around 6:30 this morning.  

At least three departments were called to the scene.  

There's no injuries being reported.

 No word yet on a cause or dollar damages.

Oneida, WI (WTAQ) - Business leaders gather in Oneida Thursday to talk about preparation for the unthinkable....an active shooter situation.

Capt. Dan Sandberg of the Brown County Sheriff's Office has made it his mission to make sure this group knows what to do if they're in that kind of scenario.

"One of the first things you always hear when people interview victims or people who live in those areas when an active shooter event occurs is it would never happen, could never happen"

He says these days you have to plan for it and be prepared. That includes holding periodic meetings with all employees.

You need to be able to care of the employees and the families of those employees, to get the information they're looking for"

Sandberg says mass shootings can happen anywhere. He says you need a plan in place and that plan should include run, hide or fight.

Officials say always know where the exit doors are and if you can, leave immediately.

If that's not possible, hide and make sure the shooter can't see you. If that doesn't work, you should fight by hitting a shooter as hard as you can.

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GREEN BAY, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network) - The Green Bay Packers and running back James Starks have agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth $6 million.

That's according to a report from ESPN's Adam Caplan.

The 30-year-old Starks set a career high with 601 rushing yards last season, but he lost his starting job when fumbling became a problem. He finished the season with five fumbles.

Starks averaged 4.1-yards per carry and scored three touchdowns.

Starks has spent his entire career with the Packers and was their starting running back in Super Bowl XLV.

TOWN OF BUCHANAN, WI (WTAQ) - Three days after a teenager died by suicide inside the building, the Buchanan Town Hall has reopened.

In a tweet on Friday, town officials thanks everyone for their patience and understanding, while offering sympathies to the boy's family and friends.

The town hall buidling had been closed since Tuesday afternoon, when a 16-year-old boy walked in and shot himself in the head.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts, click here to see a list of suicide prevention resources.

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A plea deal has been reached for a former Brown County Sheriff's D.A.R.E. officer accused of stealing money from the program.

In court Friday, Kevin Vanden Heuvel pled guilty to one count of theft of more than $10,000 by employee as party to a crime and a count of misconduct in office. Two other charges were dismissed, but the judge may consider them at sentencing.

According to the criminal complaint, Vanden Heuvel and Early Fuller would park cars, give fake passes and pocket some of the cash. It appears they've been running this scam of the D.A.R.E. program for 7 years.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 17. Vanden Heuvel could get 13-and-a-half years in prison, but prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence of 2 years in prison and 4 years extended supervision.

Fuller returns to court April 19 for a final conference.

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Howard village trustee has been charged with three counts of sexual assault for allegedly touching his female students sexually while he gave piano lessons.

62-year-old James Widiger appeared in Brown County court Friday on 2 counts of repeated sexual assault of a child and one count of second-degree sexual assault of a child under age 16. Widiger is also charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Widiger is due back in court April 1 for a preliminary hearing and had previously posted a $20,000 cash bond.

According to the criminal complaint, Widiger had two different victims.

The first victim, who's 13, was taking piano lessons from Widiger when he allegedly put his hand on her buttocks and patted her. That happened back in March 2003. This is the incident that the second-degree sexual assault charge relates to.

Earlier this month the second victim, who's 14, came forward. She told authorities Widiger repeatedly touched her under her shirt during a period of several years. The complaint divides up the assaults into two time periods, with at least 3 assaults happening in each period.

However, the complaint does not offer any details of interviews with Widiger.

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MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Officials at the Manitowoc Company say they plan to cut its workforce at their Manitowoc and Pennsylvania plants.

However, officials did not say how many jobs will be slashed and when.

Manitowoc Company President Barry L. Pennypacker says he believes the company has great potential to grow and make money.

Pennypacker adds that making these cuts will only help in better meeting customers' needs.

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A historical mystery has the Appleton Police Department asking the public for help.

Historian Arnie Nettekoven, along with the Appleton P.D., are trying to identify the officer in the photo above. 

Based upon the badge worn by the officer, officials say the photo was taken after 1926.

The initial belief was the man was Officer McGinnis, however looking at other photos of him, police do not believe it is him.

If you know the officer's identity, please call the Appleton Police Department's non-emergency number (920) 832-5500 and ask for Beth Jasiak.

Police also add that if anyone has any old Appleton Police photos or memorabilia they are willing to donate, to call the number listed above.

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - No one was hurt after an apartment fire Saturday on Green Bay's west side.

Green Bay Metro Fire crews were called around 2:25 p.m. to the eight-unit complex at 312 S. Fisk Street.

Firefighters saw heavy smoke coming from the attack, along with flames from the first and second floors upon arrival.

Battalion Chief Drew Spielman said 4 of the units were burned, while the others sustained smoke and water damage.

"It was, kind of, a two-pronged attack. We wanted to get water on the fire right away and the other step was we wanted to make sure there was no residents still in the building. So, we started a search and rescue on the second floor and the crews stared to hit the fire from the outside," Spielman told FOX 11.

Officials say the fire started on the patio of an apartment on the first floor. The cause remains under investigation.

At least 12 people have been displaced from the fire that caused $150,000 in damage.

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SHAWANO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A woman has been arrested following a shots fired incident in Shawano County overnight.

The Shawano County Sheriff's Department were called to a home on Marble Avenue in the Village of Mattoon around 1 a.m. Sunday.

Officers say they found a man with a gunshot wound. A woman there was taken into custody.

Investigators believe the incident is connected with domestic violence.

No other information is available.

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach is firing back at critics of former Health Director Chua Xiong, just days after she finished out her tenure.

Xiong turned in her resignation on March 4.

"She had a job opportunity that came forward that ultimately was something she wanted to pursue for her own professional career," Streckenbach tells WTAQ. "I'm not surprised in terms of pursuing her career goals, but at the same time, anytime you have a department head decide to resign and take a different path, yeah you're surprised."

Streckenbach says before Xiong took the job has the county's health director last year, she expressed certain career goals to him.

Debi Armbruster has been appointed interim health director, as the search for a permanent replacement begins. Armbruster is a nurse manager in the department with over 40 years of experience.

Xiong became a target for critics in December after deciding there was insufficient evidence linking illnesses reported by residents in southern Brown County who live near the Shirley Wind Farm.

"By statute, she is the only person that can make that determination," Streckenbach explains. "We allowed for Chua to go through her examination and ultimately to make the decision. I think Chua chose the path that she felt the path, professionally, that she felt comfortable making."

WTAQ's Jerry Bader is among those who've suggested that Xiong was pressured to make that decision, as a way to avoid having Brown County sued by North Carolina-based Duke Energy Renewables, who owns the Shirley Wind Farm.

"This idea suggesting that I had any involvement is ultimately false and inaccurate," Streckenbach said, adding that Chua Xiong could only explain her rationale for the decision. 

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Appleton, WI (WTAQ) - Appleton P-D responds to a call Sunday morning they don't get everyday. Around 6:47 a number of calls started rolling into 911.

Dispatchers were told a naked man was walking on the northbound lanes of Highway 441 in Appleton. One woman claimed he attacked her when she pulled over. Police believe the 18 year old was experiencing delirium.

Appleton Police Sgt Dave Lund

"typically when we see this type of behavior there's drug use associated with that"

But there's some unanswered questions too and Lund says police are still investigating.

"no other vehicle that they found close by, they did not find any other clothing nearby...so they're wondering where exactly he initially came from"

The woman the man attacked suffered minor injuries. The naked man was arrested and sent to a local hospital.

The Appleton Police Department plans to refer several charges to the Outagamie County District Attorney's Office including; disorderly conduct and battery.

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