HOWARD, WI (WTAQ) - A Nekoosa man has been arrested in connection with a fire at Staszak's Auto in the Village of Howard.

45-year-old Edward Westley is facing 9 charges, including arson of a building without owners consent, burglary to a building or dwelling, criminal damage to property and arson of property other than a building.

According to the criminal complaint, Brown County Sheriff's officers were dispatched around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, October 11, after reports smoke and flames coming from a wood shed on the property of 2102 Glendale Avenue.

After arriving at the scene, the deputy tried extinguishing the fire but it restarted in several spots. The Howard Fire Department later called in to assist.

Officers spoke with the passerby, who called in the fire, and he said he didn't see anyone in the area before law enforcement arrived.

Howard Fire Chief Don Phillips said they found two cans of starting fluid lying near the fire, per the complaint. The owner of the building told Chief Phillips that he had not given anyone permission to damage his property or light it on fire.

After investigating the area, officials noticed a broken window, a barrel on fire near the rear of the property, a service door forced open, among other signs of violations.

The Brown County Task Force went through the buildings on the property with the owner and noted items missing or out of place that included a hammer, bandana, and a left handed work glove.

Officials on the scene were later told that Green Bay police officers were responding to a crisis center for a man who was covered in soot and making homicidal statements.

Law enforcement noticed the pattern on the bottom the man’s shoes matched the pattern seen on the doors at the crime scene. Officers also recovered a lighter from the man’s pocket and leather work glove that matched a glove found on the scene.

Westley returns to court on October 31 for a competency hearing. If convicted of all counts, he faces up to 111 years behind bars and $185,000 in fines.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - One man has died and another is injured following a shooting in Appleton Saturday night.

Appleton police say they were called at 7:26 p.m. to a home in the 800 block of N. Oneida Street for a report of a man with a gunshot wound to the head. 

An officer found 21-year-old man inside his home. Danny Ortega was rushed to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Police say that Ortega shot his 24-year-old brother in the leg during an argument.

Ortega then shot himself. The 24-year-old man then left the home to get help.

According to investigators, Ortega may have had mental health issues. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday and the incident remains under investigation.

LIND, WI (WTAQ) - One man suffered life-threatening injuries following a crash after a short chase in Waupaca County.

Officials say it happened around 10:15 p.m. Friday on Holiday Road in Lind.

The 26-year-old man was driving around 99 miles per hour on Highway 10 when law enforcement tried to stop him. Officials say he turned on Holiday Road, lost control and rolled into a ditch. 

The man was ejected from the vehicle and was flown to a nearby hospital.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A pair of hotel robberies in Brown County appear to connected and police have a suspect in custody.

Ashwaubenon Public Safety was tipped that the suspect in the Sunday morning armed robbery at the Super 8 Motel was staying the Motel 6 on Shawano Avenue in Green Bay.

Green Bay Police SWAT team moved in early this morning (MON) and took Robert Morgan Neely into custody. 

The 24 year old Lakeville, Inidiana man is also the suspect in an armed robbery that took place at the Country Inn and Suites off Kepler Drive in Green Bay around 4 a.m. Sunday.

No one was hurt in the robberies.

Neely is being held at the Brown County Jail as authorities are requesting charges of 2 counts of Armed Robbery by the Brown County District Attorney’s Office.

This case is still under active investigation and anyone with information in this matter is asked to contact.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay PD investigating an armed robbery at the University Ave Shell station (Danz Av).  

The call came in just after 1:30 this morning.

The suspect was described as possibly being a male white, approximately 5'10" tall with average build wearing a sweatshirt.  

The suspect left in a small late 90's Nissan or Honda dark colored car with a silver or gold rear bumper.

He displayed a knife and left the scene with a undisclosed amount of money.

If you have any information regarding this robbery, please contact the Green Bay Police at 920-448-3208 or Crime Stoppers at 920-432-STOP reference report 16-212770 and you may be eligible for a cash reward.

GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Police say a 14-year-old boy driving a stolen vehicle which crash in the parking lot of a restaurant outside of the Fox River Mall has died.

Grand Chute police say the incident started when officers were looking for a vehicle in connection with a reckless-driving case in Neenah around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Less than 20 minutes later, an officer spotted the vehicle heading southbound on I-41 in Grand Chute. 

After watching the vehicle leave its lane, the cop tried to pull it over. The driver sped up, eventually reaching speeds of about 100 miles per hour. The officer backed off at that speed, and the driver suddenly exited at Wisconsin Avenue. 

That vehicle eventually slammed into a light pole outside the IHOP restaurant.

The driver was flown to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators say the teenager was from Milwaukee and stole his uncle's vehicle in Oshkosh. 

The restaurant was damaged in the crash. It opened for business on Monday, but part of the seating area had to be closed off.

The Wisconsin State Patrol continues to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to call the State Patrol at (920) 929-3700.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Manitowoc Police say a man was arrested Saturday for a drug overdose death in August.

48 year old Cathleen Dokey was found unresponsive at her S. 36th St. home on Aug. 23, according to a police report.

A witness told police Dokey bought heroin from James Cartwright the night before.

Police examined text messages on her phone, which also tied her to Cartwright and a drug deal. Cartwright denied any involvement.

Toxicology results determined Dokey died of a combination of heroin and methampetamine intoxication.

Formal charges have not been filed. The 39 year old Cartwright is expected to appear in Manitowoc County Circuit Court for a bond appearance Monday afternoon.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - There's no doubt that the political season is in full swing and with only two weeks left until Election Day, Green Bay police are seeing more campaign signs being stolen and vandalized around the city.

Officials recently got complaints of Trump signs that were taken out of yards and defaced.

Police got a call Sunday night from a resident who set a trap for the suspects, including motion-activated sprinklers, lights, and was caught on video.

Captain Kevin Warych says vandalism like this is common with the presidential election so close.

"Most frequently we see signs being stolen and if they're not stolen, they're either kicked, damaged, or destroyed in some way, basically defacing the signs," Warych said. "We just need people to know that if people are caught doing this, they will be held accountable and most likely face a criminal damage of property citation."

Authorities would like the public to report these behaviors when they see them. 

"Odds are the suspects are probably very close to where the incident took place. We have officers sporadically throughout the city, 24 hours a day, so if we get that call, officers can respond and check that area," Warych said.

If you see political sign vandalism happeing in your area, please contact the Green Bay Police Department at 920-448-3200 or Crime Stoppers at 920-432-STOP. 

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) -- Appleton Police say a domestic violence suspect tried to avoid arrest by fleeing through St. Elizabeth Hospital Monday morning.

At approximately 11:45 a.m. police say they responded to a home in the 1000 block of S. East Street for a domestic violence incident.

The suspect, a 27-year-old Appleton man, retreated into a shared basement of an apartment building to avoid arrest.

While officers waited for additional assistance, the man exited the building and drove off in a car.

The man stopped the vehicle in the parking lot of St. Elizabeth Hospital, at 1506 S. Oneida Street, and ran inside.

The man ran through several areas of the hospital before officers and hospital security staff were able to locate him.

Police say the man was taken to jail on several charges related to two domestic violence incidents, occurring on Monday and Oct. 21, 2016.

TOWN OF CALUMET, WI (WTAQ) - One man has died and a woman was hurt following a crash in Fond du Lac County Sunday.

According to officials, it happened on Highway 151 in the Town of Calumet just after noon. 

Investigators say a vehicle driving northbound crossed the center line and struck another vehicle head-on. 

A 73-year-old Malone man, driving the northbound vehicle, was killed. The driver of the southbound vehicle, a 65-year-old woman, was hurt.

Sheriff's officials have not released the names of those involved.

KIMBERLY, WI (WTAQ) - Officials say a power failure has closed Kimberly High School on Monday.

Social media posts from the Fox Valley Metro Police Department around 10:15 a.m. indicated the school had a power outage.

Students were then sent home.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The small claims lawsuit involving a former used car dealership in Suamico and Kaukauna may be heading to circuit court.

That's coming out of a motions hearing Monday in Appleton regarding Standard Pre-Owned.

Richard Sprague and his son, Mason Sprague, are seeking $10,000 in damages from Bella Investment Group, LLC, along with other defendants John Solberg, Brent Strelka, Bryan Crain and James Lenz. They were one of dozens of consignors who fell victim to the troubled dealership who apparently re-sold vehicles without obtaining the titles.

The motion was filed by attorney Gregg Curry, who's representing Strelka and Crain. Curry sought to have Solberg take a deposition and prevent him from speaking with the media.

"There have been some pretty outrageous allegations made here, and frankly I'm tired of that and frankly I think Mr. Solberg should be sanctioned for that," Curry said during the hearing. "As I walk in, he's showing the complaint to the bar to the media and that's way out of bounds and should be stopped."

That complaint was made by Solberg to the Office of Lawyer Regulation against Curry.

"Why are you trying to try this in the media?" asks Maureen Roberts Budiac, court commissioner, of Solberg, who responded by saying that, "progress is being made" and that it's his "freedom to speak to the press".

Ultimately, Roberts Budiac said that she couldn't prevent Solberg from going to the media or talking with them. However, she warned Solberg about threatening people like Curry. 

"You don't have the ability to prosecute people," Roberts Budiac said. "And you keep saying I'm going to prosecute you for the racketeering and all those things. That's a state agency deal, not yours, so you can't keep threatening people with prosecution."

KICKING IT UPSTAIRS

The big news coming out of the hearing on Monday was that both sides have until November 4 to file paperwork to take this case out of small claims court and up to circuit court.

"Which I've thought all along is appropriate for this case," says Curry. "And that will help move this case along in ways it was not moving at this point."

Among the issues holding back the case in small claims court is the process of discovery, which again became a point of contention during the hearing. Solberg was asked to sign a financial disclosure agreement by Curry, and Solberg has yet to do so. The agreement would allow him access to any and all bank accounts Solberg opened with the tax ID number from Bella Investment Group from November 1, 2015 to the present day.

"What's the problem with getting access to that?" asks Roberts Budiac. "You're asking the same of them, you're asking for personal and business records."

Solberg initially argued he shouldn't have to sign that, then was told that it was part of proper methods of discovery and then agreed to have his attorney look at it before he signs it.

"My hope would be that Mr. Solberg would hire an attorney who could help him through that process," Curry says. "We've tried to do things informally and it just has not worked for whatever reason."

The Sprague's have a new attorney, Eric Wimberger, who filed a notice of appearance just last Thursday. Wimberger also believes going to the circuit court level will benefit his clients.

"The case is very complicated, we're going to try to do as expeditiously and economically sound as possible for everyone," said Wimberger after the hearing. "I anticipate amending the pleadings and doing what needs to get done."

James Lenz appeared at the hearing and sought to file a motion to dismiss himself as a defendant, calling his involvement at the attribution of Solberg, a "bunch of lies." Roberts Budiac informed Lenz that he's going to have to wait until a circuit court judge is assigned after the November 4 deadline, then file the motion with that official.

MORE MEDIA LEAKS

After court, Solberg emailed WTAQ saying that, "Today was a huge victory for me none of curries (sic) motions which were ridiculous were granted." 

Solberg, along with more than three dozen people and banks, were named as defendants in a civil declaratory judgement against the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The summons and complaint was filed on September 27 in Dane County Circuit Court.

WTAQ has also obtained a copy of a text message allegedly sent from Solberg to a then-Standard Pre-Owned #1 manager in Kaukauna. It reads:

"Brian has to take on lisc, then I literally hit road and do the same thing in different states. No more in Wisconsin."

Both Curry and Wimberger hope that by moving to the circuit court level, more detailed information from Solberg will be forth coming in a more timelier. As Roberts Budiac continually pointed out Monday, "this is about Mr. Sprague wanting some compensation for him and his son's vehicle."

The next hearing in small claims court is currently scheduled for December 15.

MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Ray Mabus, the Secretary of the U.S. Navy spent Monday touring the Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship production line at Fincantieri Marinette Marine.

This was his first visit to the shipyard since 2009.

His visit comes after concerns over the LCS program, in which four ships suffered mechanical issues earlier this year.

Mabus spoke to WLUK.

"Navy ships break, they have issues, that's why we have shipyards, that's why we repair them so often"

Despite those issues, Mabus says the Navy wants 52 LCS, saying they fill a gap and meet the capability needs of the Navy.

"They've got a huge flight deck, they've got a huge hanger deck, they can get in closer, and they can operate with carrier strikers"

He added, every day changes are being made to the ships, as well as how the Navy uses them. One of those changes includes designating the first four LCS as testing vessels, which will better prepare sailors for combat.

"Unlike aircrafts and ground vehicles, you can't build one of these and blow it up and test it and see how to use it. You have to take it out and you've got to deploy it, and you've got to let sailors test it" Currently, the Navy has contracts to build 26 LCS between two shipyards. 13 ships are being built at Marinette Marine.

Out of those 13 ships, four ships have been delivered to the Navy, three are in the water, and six other ships are in production.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Almost 3,000 jobs are up for grabs in the Bay Area Career Expo in Green Bay today.

More than 140 employers will be at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Job seekers must complete a Career Expo/Job Fair Survey before arriving to the expo.

Registered businesses include Ariens Company, Belmark Inc., Faith Technologies, Green Bay Packers, KI, Lodge Kohler and more.

The event will be reserved for U.S. military veterans 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., and general admission begins after 1:30 p.m.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A 19-year-old man was arrested for allegedly stabbing an 18-year-old man on Oshkosh's north side.

Police say the stabbing happened around 1 a.m. Tuesday in a parking lot in the 500 block of Camelot Court.

The stabber and the victim knew each other and a dispute between the two had been ongoing, investigators say.

The victim was taken to the hospital with multiple stab wounds, but the wounds were not considered life-threatening.

Sheriff's deputies found the suspect inside his vehicle in a business parking lot in the area of highways 45 and II in the Town of Winchester.

Police are recommending charges of second-degree recklessly endangering safety with a knife.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - An email publicly released for the first time show Green Bay's city clerk refused to establish an early voting site on the UW-Green Bay campus, in part, because it would help Democrats.

The Nation first reported that was the reasoning from City Clerk Kris Teske in an e-mail sent to the Wisconsin Ethics Commission's David Buerger dated August 26.

In the e-mail, Teske wrote:

"I have a State Representative who is being very persistent about having an alternate polling location at UWGB. I don't like the idea at all for many reasons: Staffing, ballot security, budget, etc. He is on the ballot for 25 of our wards. I was reading the statues and read: No site may be designated that affords an advantage to any political party. UWGB is a polling location for students and residents on Election Day but I feel by asking for this to be the site for early voting is encouraging the students to vote more than benefiting the city as a while. 

I have heard it said that students lean more toward the democrats and he is a democrat. I have spoken with our Chief of Staff and others at City Hall and they agree that budget wise this isn't going to happen.

I would like to know your thoughts on this. Do I have an argument about it being more of a benefit to the democrats?"

"I was disappointed to see the way that Kris took a look at things," says Wisconsin State Rep. Eric Genrich (D-Green Bay), who was the person Teske referred to in that email. "I'm interested in increasing turnout across the board, not real concerned about what the partisan implications of increased turnout might be."

Genrich says that after problems with the glut of voters lining up during April's spring primary, he wanted to reach out to the city himself to see if some kind of early voting could be established.

"Out on campus we had the support from Libertarian students, from college Republicans, college Democrats, a number of faculty and a bunch of folks," Genrich says. "That were just interested in alleviating a lot of the congestion and wait times that were experienced in the spring."

He adds that this adds fuel to the fire sparked by Democratic leaders in Wisconsin, along with various groups, about the state and Republicans putting up barriers for people who want to vote.

Teske did not respond to our request for comment on Tuesday.

Wisconsin Elections and Ethics Commission spokesman Reid Magney says that they had no role in the matter and that the city looked at a, "variety of factors in deciding whether to offer alternate absentee voting locations."

"Under state law, '…no site may be designated that affords an advantage to any political party.'  Wis. Stat. § 6.855(1). The clerk was asking for guidance interpreting that statute."

"Most municipal clerks do not have the resources to open satellite absentee voting locations, and no state law requires clerks to establish satellite absentee voting locations," Magney said in an e-mail. "The Wisconsin Elections Commission and its staff did not participate in the city’s ultimate decision making regarding absentee voting locations."

Magney added that Teske contacted a, "former Election staffer who had transferred to the Ethics Commission. He forwarded the clerk’s email to staff counsel for the Elections Commission."

He also cited a court ruling in July from Judge James Peterson on the One Wisconsin Institute case opened the door for clerks to establish satellite in-person absentee voting locations in addition to the clerks’ office.

"The Elections Commission staff counsel provided the clerk with guidance on what criteria she and the city council could consider when deciding whether to establish satellite absentee voting locations, and where they might be," Magney wrote. "Polling locations are established by municipal clerks and their governing bodies (city councils or village and town boards)."

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Brown County judge has ruled that a suspect involved in an April murder in Green Bay is competent to stand trial.

Richard Arrington is accused of shooting up a home on Day Street, killing 25-year-old Ricardo Gomez. 

A trial date was not scheduled and Arrington returns to court for a final conference January 3. Also Tuesday, the defense withdrew its speedy trial demand.

Arrington is charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide. Devin Landrum is charged with aiding Arrington. He's due back in court November 8.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A man has been charged for allegedly shooting a dog two times this past weekend.

Joseph Ihde is jailed on charges of intentionally shooting a staked animal and intentionally mistreating an animal. 

The shooting took place at a Town of Neenah home on Saturday. The English mastiff, Broady, survived the incident and is being treated at the Fox Valley Animal Shelter.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help pay for the dog's vet bills.

An initial court appearance for Ihde in Winnebago County is set for Tuesday afternoon.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay and Wisconsin Public Service are teaming up to fight winter energy costs.

Tuesday, WPS presented 100 Weatherization Kits to the Salvation Army's west side location at 626 Union Court.

Salvation Army County Coordinator, Major Bob Mueller, says the donation will provide families with the necessary tools to keep their homes energy efficient.

"It's going to reduce their utility bills and help them be able to afford food, clothing, and whatever else they may need," said Mueller. "This could save them pennies, dollars...we don't know what the end will be but every dollar they save will be appreciated."

The kits, valued at $20 each, include two 9.5-watt LED light bulbs, two window insulation shrink kits, one roll v-seal weather, one LED nightlight, eight switch and light gaskets and information on energy savings and bill payment options.

If you're interested in a kit, call the Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay at 920-497-7053 and speak with a case worker.

"It's a great, great gift to the community and we want to thank WPS once again for their generosity and support," Mueller said.

For more information on local services the Salvation Army provides, go to www.sagreenbay.org.

WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ) - A teenager charged in the beating death of a man left along the side of a road is pleading not guilty.

On Tuesday, Zachary Hohn entered that plea to charges of first-degree intentional homicide and robbery for the April 11 murder of Matthew Pagel. Hohn turns 17 on Wednesday.

Another suspect, 24-year-old Adam Ozuna, has also pleaded not guilty to the same counts.

Both suspects are due back in court for a scheduling conference on November 22. No trial dates have been set.

According to the criminal complaint, Ozuna and Hohn picked up Pagel from a Clintonville motel where he was living. Pagel allegedly was looking to buy the drug Adderall and had been exchanging text messages with both of them. 

Prosecutors say Ozuna and Hohn offered to drive Pagel to get some Adderall, but instead beat him to death in the car and robbed him. They stole $200 and Pagel's jacket.

Officials say they used a car belonging to the mother of Hohn's girlfriend, who also lives with Ozuna. When they returned to the home, they were allegedly covered in blood and told Hohn's girlfriend about the incident. Her mom eventually found Pagel's body in a ditch southeast of Clintonville and called 911 around 2:30 a.m.

Last week, a judge denied Hohn's request to have the case transferred to juvenile court. In Wisconsin, children ages 10 to 16 charged with homicide or attempted homicide are automatically charged in adult court.