GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A trial date has been scheduled for the suspect in an Oshkosh warehouse arson case.

Jeremy Neumann's trial on arson and fraud counts will begin September 19. Neumann is accused of setting the 2015 fire at Gambit McDermott LLC on Leeward Court West.

Neumann made his initial appearance in federal court on Thursday. His pre-trial conference is set for September 8.

According to court documents, prosecutors believe Neumann set the fire as a way to collect insurance money.

State charges were dropped in favor of federal prosecution.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A series of smash and grab burglaries over the past week are being investigated in Appleton.

Police say on July 8, Maritime Bar at 336 W. Wisconsin Avenue was forcibly entered at 6:40 a.m. by a person who smashed out the front glass door. The gaming machines inside the bar were forced open and cash was taken.

The next day, July 9, Spin Fresh Laundromat on N. Linwood Avenue was forcibly entered sometime between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. Police say 6 gaming machines were damaged after the suspect smashed out a window to the men's bathroom to get inside. Cash was taken from the machines.

On Tuesday at 6:17 a.m., gaming machines were damaged and money was taken from Grumpy's Bar, 1501 N. Richmond Street. The suspect gained entry by smashing out the front glass door.

If you have any information regarding any of the burglaries, please contact Sgt. Neal Rabas at (920) 832-5546. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can text CRIMES (274-637) with the keyword APDTIPS at the start of your text.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities say an inmate has escaped while being transferred in Green Bay.

According to the Brown County Sheriff's Office and Green Bay police, 20-year-old Daniel D. Patrykus jumped 2 fences while being transferred back to the jail from the Brown County Community Treatment Center.

Patrykus is wearing a red shirt and blue jean shorts. He was temporarily in the care and custody of the mental health center receiving treatment and was cleared to be released to the Brown County Jail.

K-9 resources have been called in as sheriff's deputies set up a perimeter. 

In a release, officials believe the public in not in any immediate danger despite Patrykus having made some threatening comments about police and not returning to jail. Deputies do advise that if you come in contact with Patrykus, don't attempt to apprehend him.

Any information on Patrykus' current location should be called in to the Brown County Communication Center at (920) 391-7450 or the shift lieutenant at (920) 448-4241.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay police have written triple the number of speeding tickets so far this year, compared with 2015.

Alderman and former Green Bay police captain Bill Galvin is happy to hear about the USA Today Network-Wisconsin report.

"It's unfortunate that we have that many people speeding in the city making it unsafe for residents," says Galvin. "I've received a lot of complaints about speeding throughout the district and I know other alders have since I've been sworn in."

Between 2008 and 2014, the number of tickets written by the Green Bay Police Department fell 83 percent. But in 2016 so far, police handed out 1,266 speeding tickets.

"I know that the alders have been asking for more enforcement, I know the police department wanted to get more enforcement," Galvin says. "With Chief (Andrew) Smith the way he's been reworking some of the staffing and getting the officers motivated out there, officers finding more free time to get out there and some overtime money being obtained by the state, all that has come together to give us some of the results we see."

Speeding in neighborhoods, school zones and around parks have been an issue in Green Bay for many years. Galvin knows that first hand.

"Back when I was on the department and I was a district captain, we would have meetings or do surveys at neighborhood associations, one of the top complaints always was traffic and speeding and reckless driving," says Galvin. "And that's going back 10, 15 years."

Galvin says the ramped up enforcement is helpful as an educational and enforcement measure in order to keep everyone safe. He calls it a, "good start," and hopes the message gets across to drivers to think twice before speeding on city streets.

UNDATED (WTAQ) - Green Bay will soon be getting a grief support group for those who've lost a loved one to addiction.

Wendy Steward started The Red Balloon Group following the death of her daughter, Alyssa, from a heroin overdose two years ago.

"Going through my own grief, I realized there was so many people out there working to not get kids using drugs, but there wasn't any grief support groups, there wasn't anybody on the other side," Steward explains. "When you lost your child, there wasn't anybody helping people through that that I could find."

The inspiration of the group's name came from a ceremony done in honor of Alyssa Steward.

"Because Alyssa's birthday was the same day as her funeral, we ended up doing a balloon release on that day," Steward says. "We attached cards that said 'We release these balloons in loving memory of Alyssa Steward', and I asked that people text a picture of where the balloons landed. That first year, one red balloon made it across Lake Michigan to a cherry orchard and it was just the most beautiful setting. So everything I do, since Alyssa passed away, has a red balloon on it. It has kind of become her symbol."

Steward says it pushed her to start support groups for parents and loved ones to share, support and connect with others about what they're going through.

"I have parents that are very grateful for the group, I'm very grateful for the group because I also find support there," says Steward. "I also run a Facebook group where people can post on Facebook and get support from other members."

For those looking to join The Red Balloon Groups, you can check out their Facebook pages for parents and other family/friends.

• In Oshkosh -- The Red Balloon Group for parents meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at Solutions Recovery Club, 621 Evans Street, from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
• In Appleton -- The Red Balloon Group for parents meets the 4th Wednesday of each month at Mooring House, 607 W. 7th Street, from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The family/friends Red Balloon Group meets at the same place on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Steward hopes to start The Red Balloon Group for family/friends in Green Bay in August, with a future group in Milwaukee later this year.

UNDATED (WTAQ) - Court documents reveal that the Wisconsin Department of Justice is working to settle a lawsuit filed by a Lawrence University assistant football coach who had trouble getting a driver's license.

Mark Speckman, who was born without hands, claims his repeated attempts to get a license after moving from California were illegally rebuffed. Speckman is seeking unspecified damages in his lawsuit against the DMV.

FOX 11 reports the state's formal response was due last week, but lawyers requested an extension.

"The Defendants are working with plaintiff's counsel to commence an early mediation and resolve this dispute," wrote assistant Attorney General Anne Bensky.

This week, Judge William Griesbach approved the state's proposal that the state either file its response by Oct. 6 or notify the court the case has been settled.

"Counsel for defendants believe this amount of time is necessary to fully engage in mediation and/or settlement, and execute agreements, particularly given scheduling difficulties that inevitably occur during the summer months," Bensky said.

Speckman's attorneys did not object to the scheduling change.

No trial date has been set.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A re-dedication ceremony was held Friday at an Appleton church that recently had its Black Lives Matter sign stolen.

Once again, the sign is up outside the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

"Unitarian Universalists in general have had a long history for racial advocacy and Black Lives Matter is something that is important to us," the church's interim Senior Minister Kathleen Rolenz told FOX 11.

Nearly 200 people took part in the ceremony.

"It's a predominantly white congregation that believes in racial justice, equity and fairness," Rolenz said, admitting the church has received criticism about the sign.

Participants say Black Lives Matter is not meant to put one race above others. They said the movement is meant to achieve equality.

"We are really one. It's not just about black lives. It's about all lives," said Ramari Bess.

"In the midst of all the things that are going on right now this is the main focus at this point," added Silk Bess.

They hope this is just the start of the conversation.

"This right here's gonna create a movement to bring us closer and to get people to understand and accept each other," said Silk Bess.

Since the sign was first displayed in February 2015, it has been stolen twice.

STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A man was arrested in Sturgeon Bay for an alleged assault Thursday night.

Police officers were called to an upstairs apartment on S. 3rd Avenue around 11:30 p.m. and found a 38-year-old man bleeding with cuts to his left eye and jaw.

The man told the cops someone kicked in his door and began punching him and striking him with a metal bar. The victim also says he was choked.

A third person was able to stop the assault and the suspect ran away, police say.

Officers tracked the 35-year-old suspect to Cherry Lane Bar and arrested him.

According to police, the man was intoxicated at the time of the assault which violated his bond conditions from a 5th OWI case.

Recommended charges of substantial battery, strangulation, burglary and bail jumping and the following misdemeanors: disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property have been sent to the district attorney's office.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - "It's very emotional when you see something like this going on"

Another police ambush.....and a retired Green Bay cop expects changes in police response as a result.

Bill Galvin is now a member of the Green Bay City Council.

He was emotional when finding out 3 cops in Baton Rouge were gunned down in an apparent ambush.

"When I told my daughters their response was I'm glad you're not a cop anymore. I wish I was and at the same time I'm kinda glad I'm not"

He says the end result could be more police riding in squad cars and even slower response to calls as they figure out the security risks.

"Instead of going there to help people, like we think we're supposed to be doing, we may very well be set up in an ambush where we're the target"

Galvin says these are times that are hard to understand.

"It's like a serious segment of our society has turned on the very people that we're supposed to trust to protect us"

He says officers are going to be warned to be more careful and wary.....

"The barking dog call could be the one that sets you up"

Finally, Galvin says it will be a challenge for officers to remember that it's just a small segment of society that wants to harm them.

The vast majority support police.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Summer's the time of year where many of us like to ride our bikes and cruise area trails or roadways.

Unfortunately, accidents can happen and that why it's essential to wear a helmet.

Dr. Jeremy Metzler, Sports and Family Medicine physician at Prevea Health, explains just how important it is to protect your head.

"Concussions aren't completely avoidable, but helmets will protect them from skull fractures or more seriously head injuries."

If you suspect you or your child has a concussion, Dr. Metzler suggests calling your primary care provider.

"If they're complaining of any type of headaches, dizziness or nausea, again another big thing is also the parents will be able to tell if the kids are not acting properly or if he's just not being himself."

To avoid other injuries, make sure your helmet is fitted properly too. Dr. Metzler says buy the right size for the age and make sure it fits snuggly. Local bike shops can help you find the right one.

For more information on concussions, go to www.prevea.com.

UNDATED (WTAQ) - Two delegates representing Wisconsin's Eighth Congressional District at this week's Republican National Convention took different paths to get to Cleveland.

Literally.

"My wife and I left on Saturday morning out of Waukesha and we're going to ride with a bunch of other delegates on a delegate bus," says Jerry Murphy of Appleton. "We had considered different options on how to get there, but we kind of settled that would be a good way to go and meet some people on the way and we don't have the pressures of driving."

Barb Finger of Oconto also considered driving, but decided against getting behind the wheel. Her main concern was security.

"When I approach Cleveland and I'm outside the security bubble, or corridor, what could happen based on some of the things I had seen in the news," Finger says. "Since I'm flying in, I don't think that's going to be a problem."

On the topic of security, both Murphy and Finger have thought about how to handle an expected raucous crowd of protesters outside the Quicken Loans Arena.

"My wife's a little bit nervous about it but my feeling is that if you stay smart about it, you don't want to be wandering around outside of the convention center at odd hours and leaving yourself vulnerable," says Murphy. "You keep an eye on things and stay observant of your surroundings, then no I'm not worried about it."

"I'm not going to be walking around downtown on my own," Finger says. "I had a recommendation for a deli that it turns out is less than a mile from the hotel we'll be staying at, but I think I'll be taking a taxi instead of walking there. People have also told me travel in groups, don't be walking around on your own, but that's about all I'm doing."

EXPERIENCING THE POLITICAL PROCESS

Murphy is making his first trip to a national convention as a delegate, an honor he anticipated to get when he first asked about going back in January. Still, he's excited to be selected.

"I guess I'm a little bit too new to the process on the delegate stage here, I don't know what I'm all going to run into," Murphy says, adding he just wants to take it all in. "I figure I have very good judgement and just apply that to anything that comes up."

Finger previously attended the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa. 

"I kind of overbooked myself for events in 2012. Come to our party, fill this out, et cetera," recalls Finger. "Half the stuff I wasn't able to go to, I just didn't have the time."

Both delegates are not buying into the so-called "Never Trump" group being able to disrupt the process and turning the convention on its ear.

"I'm new at this, I don't know what might be planned by some people," Murphy says, admitting he didn't support Trump during the primary. "I'm certainly not looking to participate in that."

"The anti-Trump crowd is making a lot of noise on social media and in the news," says Finger. "I don't think that effort will be successful, but it should be interesting to see what happens."

PARTY UNITY

With word last week that Indiana Governor Mike Pence had been chosen as Donald Trump's running mate, both Murphy and Finger believe the ticket can bring this seemingly divided party together.

"I certainly think that Donald Trump can win this election," says Murphy. "First of all, Hillary Clinton is not a strong candidate. For Trump, I think it's all in front of him in terms of whether he can win this election. His nominating speech on Thursday night will be very crucial, he needs to have a good speech and needs to run a good campaign going forward, but definitely he can win this election."

"The closer we get to the actual nomination, I think people are going to more and more coalesce behind Donald Trump as our nominee," Finger says, praising the selection of Pence. "And I do believe he can win in November."

The Republican National Convention will host about 2,470 delegates and 2,302 alternate delegates from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five territories.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The City of Appleton has seen a number of burglaries involving gaming machines in the past two weeks.

On July 8th just before 7 a.m. the Maritime Bar on Wisconsin Ave. was broken into and four gaming machines were damaged. The burglar entered by smashing the glass in the front door. The gaming machines were forced open and cash was taken. A security camera captured footage of the burglar.

On July 9th between midnight and 5 a.m. the Spin Fresh Laundromat on N. Linwood Ave. was burglarized and six gaming machines were damaged. The burglar entered the laundromat by smashing a window in the men's bathroom. The machines were forced open and cash was taken from each.

Then on July 12th just after 6 a.m. at Grumpy's Bar on N. Richmond St. a burglar entered the building by smashing out the glass in the front door. Several gaming machines were damaged and money was stolen. Surveillance video captured images of the burglar.

Anyone with information on the burglaries is asked to contact the Appleton Police Department at 920-832-5546.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay police are investigating a burglary at a gun store overnight.

Officers are on scene at Nelson Tactical, which is at the corner of Velp Avenue and Thrush Street.

No other information is available.

Meantime, FOX 11 reports that there was a window broken at Gus's Gun Shop on E. Mason Street. The manager says that nothing was stolen.

We will continue to update these stories as more information becomes available.

WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The Winnebago County Sheriff's Department is investigating a domestic-related shooting.

Deputies were called to the 5200 block of County Highway N in the Town of Utica just after 7 a.m. Monday.

Officials found one person dead and another injured after a neighbor reported hearing gunshots. They also say three dogs were shot and killed.

The victims are a 36-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man, but no other information is available at this time.

The public, investigators say, is not in any danger.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A female inmate at the Brown County Jail committed suicide over the weekend.

According to the Brown County Sheriff's Office, the inmate was found at 10:13 p.m. Sunday hanging from her cell.

Correctional staff released her and began to perform CPR. They were able, officials say, to revive the inmate to the point of obtaining a pulse. 

The inmate was then taken to a nearby hospital, where she died a few hours later.

The Brown County Medical Examiner's Office is contacting next of kin and have not released her identity. Support services to staff involved in the rescue attempt are being provided by the Brown County Sheriff's Office Jail POST Team (Police Officer Support Team).

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Governor Scott Walker is seeking a federal assessment to conduct a damage estimate in the wake of storm damage to roads and bridges in northern Wisconsin.

"Communities throughout northern Wisconsin were hit hard by flooding last week. We are doing everything we can to help them," Governor Walker said in a statement. "I saw the damage firsthand and have worked with Wisconsin's federal delegation and my cabinet to provide immediate assistance to the effected communities.”

The storm and flooding caused more than $28 million in damage to those roads, bridges and trails. Walker has declared a state of emergency for Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Sawyer, and Washburn counties.

According to a release by state emergency management officials, the storms caused nearly $1.8 million to homes and businesses in the affected counties.

Teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin assessing damage the week of July 25. The assessment is expected to take a few days to complete.

Information gathered will be provided to Governor Walker to help determine if the state will request a federal disaster declaration. It is the first step to request federal disaster assistance.

ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ) - An officer at the Green Bay Correctional Institution is being treated after an inmate threw a pot of scalding water in their face.

According to a release by the Brown County Sheriff's Department, the incident happened Monday leading to a temporary lockdown at the prison while an investigation takes place.

The employee is being treated at a burn center in Milwaukee.

Officials say an inmate, who was not the intended target, was also burned in the incident. The inmate sustained burn injuries to his back and was treated at the Green Bay Correctional Institution.

This comes less than 3 weeks after an inmate stabbed two employees and injured a third at the prison. The suspect in that case, Francisco Flores-Rocha, was found dead 5 days later.

DOC Secretary Jon Litscher says he will visit the prison in the next few days to visit with staff members.

The DOC says in a news release that it is committed to ensuring the safety of staff members, inmates and visitors.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - More charges are being sought against the man police in Manitowoc County describe as a significant drug supplier.

28-year-old Frederick Smith is due for his initial appearance in Manitowoc County court Monday afternoon. Smith is being held on a $250,000 bond.

Smith is charged with three counts of manufacture/delivery of cocaine, two counts of manufacture/delivery of heroin, one count of possession of heroin with intent to deliver, and one count of manufacture/deliver a controlled narcotic.

Investigators say, overall, they seized over a quarter-pound of heroin from Smith during the investigation. It had a street value of about $30,000.

MARIBEL, WI (WTAQ) - A reward is being offered to anyone who has information leading to the arrest of the suspects involved in vandalizing a Manitowoc County park.

According to officials, the vandalism happened on or around July 13 at Maribel Caves Park in Maribel. Someone entered the cave by cutting a lock off the secured door and vandalized the caves.

The New Hope Cave was also damaged, including the breaking off of formations.

A $500 cash reward is being offered.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at (920) 683-4466.

ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ) - The first Green Bay firefighter killed in the line of duty has received the recognition he deserves, 125 years after his death.

Hans Hanson died while responding to a fire while on his first day on the job back in 1892.

Research into the incident found that Hanson was buried in an unmarked grave, and didn't receive full fire department honor.

On Monday, Hanson was honored with a headstone at Woodlawn Cemetery in Allouez. Fire officials say the honor was long overdue.

"We memorialize all firefighters that are killed in the line of duty, and as time has gone on those recognitions have become more set into our culture. So to give this to him were giving something to ourselves as well," Lt. David Siegel of the Green Bay Metro Fire Department told FOX 11.

Hanson is 1 of 9 Green Bay firefighters in history that have lost their lives in the line of duty.