Law Enforcement Seeking Persons of Interest in Kenosha Arson Investigations
Law Enforcement Seeking Persons of Interest in Kenosha Arson Investigations
Kenosha, Wis. — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Milwaukee Field Office, the Kenosha Police Department, the Kenosha Fire Department, the Kenosha Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation in conjunction with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin is seeking to speak to at least seven persons of interest who could advance the arson investigations of several Kenosha, Wisconsin businesses and vehicles that were set ablaze between Sunday, August 23 and Tuesday, August 25.
, @SenRonJohnson
and AG in Wisconsin today to meet with first responders who have been on the front lines of protecting Kenosha residents from violent rioters. Great partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement.
ATF’s National Response Team (NRT) and local field office of Special Agents, in partnership with the Kenosha Police Department, Kenosha Fire Department, Kenosha Sheriff’s Office, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and the United States Attorney’s Office are focusing their efforts on identifying the persons responsible for twenty structure and seven vehicle arsons that occurred in Kenosha last month. Members of ATF’s specialized NRT arrived last week to work alongside the local investigators. The NRT brings expertise in meeting the challenges faced at the scenes of significant fires and explosions. The teams are each comprised of veteran special agents who have post-blast and fire origin-and-cause expertise, forensic chemists, explosives enforcement officers, fire protection engineers, accelerant detection canines, explosives detection canines, intelligence support, computer forensic support, and audit support.
“With remarkable speed, the ATF’s National Response Team has already processed the fire scenes and isolated images of individuals who may have important information,” said United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger. “Now we need the public’s help in reviewing these images. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, with the ATF and our state and local partners, will continue working to hold accountable anyone responsible for the arsons that devastated Kenosha.”
“We are asking the community to look at these images and videos and provide information to help solve these arsons,” said Special Agent in Charge Kristen de Tineo of the Chicago Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “Engaging the community is imperative to not only solving these arsons, it will help the community heal and build trust among all Kenosha stakeholders.”
Anyone with information on the identities or whereabouts of these individuals, or if you have additional pictures or videos, please contact Kenosha Police Department at (262) 605-5203 or Kenosha CrimeStoppers at (262) 656-7333, or 1-888-ATF-FIRE. Additionally, you may also email information to ATFTips@atf.gov. Provide as much information as you can about the identities and whereabouts of these individuals or upload any videos or photos that may aid in an investigation.
ATF National Response Team and Kenosha Police Department are seeking to identify the above male (ID# UNSUB16) in relation to an arson which occurred at B&L Furniture located at 1101 60th Street, Kenosha, Wisconsin the evening of August 24.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/be9YiWWCgHM
ATF National Response Team and Kenosha Police Department are seeking to identify the above male (ID# UNSUB1) in relation to a Kenosha Garbage Truck set ablaze which occurred at 56thand Sheridan, Kenosha, Wisconsin August 23.
ATF National Response Team and Kenosha Police Department are seeking to identify the above female (ID# UNSUB15) in relation to an arson that occurred at TCF Bank located at 1815 63rdStreet in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 24 at 11:34 p.m.
ATF National Response Team and Kenosha Police Department are seeking to identify the above female (ID# UNSUB6) in relation to an arson that occurred at H&R Block located at 6124 22ndAvenue in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 24.
ATF National Response Team and Kenosha Police Department are seeking to identify the above female (ID# UNSUB15) in relation to multiple arsons that occurred in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 24.
ATF National Response Team and Kenosha Police Department are seeking to identify the above male (ID# UNSUB12) in relation to an arson which occurred at Car Source located at 6226 Sheridan Road in Kenosha, Wisconsin the evening of August 24.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/zNNykVfFsPg
ATF National Response Team and Kenosha Police Department are seeking to identify the above male (ID# UNSUB12) in relation to an arson which occurred at Kenosha Probation and Parole Building at 1212 60th Street in Kenosha, Wisconsin the evening of August 24.
In addition to the persons of interest in the arsons described above, the following arsons are also under investigation. Please submit any information you may have regarding the following addresses:
- Mangia’s Italian Restaurant, 5717 Sheridan Road
- Kenosha Public Library, 711 59th Place
- Mattress Shop, 6224 22nd Avenue
- Affordable Auto, 1118 60th Street
- County Credit Union, 925 59th Street
- Charlie’s 10th Hole, 3805 22nd Avenue
- Boost Mobile, 2208 Roosevelt Road
- Car Source, 5821 Sheridan Road
- Something Different, 5716 6th Avenue
- DeBerge’s Framing & Gallery, 2008 63rd Street
- Citgo Gas Station, 3806 30th Street
- Treasure’s Within, 1016 60th Street
- Dinosaur Discovery Museum, 5608 10th Avenue
- Lend Nation, 6304 22nd Avenue
If you have information about any of these incidents, please contact Kenosha Police Department at (262) 605-5203 or Kenosha CrimeStoppers at (262) 656-7333, or 1-888-ATF-FIRE. Additionally, you may also email information to ATFTips@atf.gov.
UPDATE officer involved shooting
KENOSHA, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is continuing to investigate an officer involved shooting (OIS) in Kenosha, Wis. that occurred on the evening of Sunday, August 23, 2020.
Kenosha Police Department officers were dispatched to a residence in the 2800 block of 40th Street after a female caller reported that her boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be on the premises.
During the incident, officers attempted to arrest Jacob S. Blake, age 29. After the initial attempt to arrest Mr. Blake, Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey deployed a taser to attempt to stop Mr. Blake. When that attempt failed, Kenosha Police Officer Vincent Arenas also deployed his taser, however that taser was also not successful in stopping Mr. Blake.
Mr. Blake walked around his vehicle, opened the driver’s side door, and leaned forward. While holding onto Mr. Blake’s shirt, Officer Rusten Sheskey fired his service weapon 7 times. Officer Sheskey fired the weapon into Mr. Blake’s back. No other officer fired their weapon. Kenosha Police Department does not have body cameras, therefore the officers were not wearing body cameras.
The shooting officer, Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey, has been a law enforcement officer with Kenosha Police Department for seven years. Kenosha Police Officer Vincent Arenas has served with Kenosha Police Department since February 2019, with prior service with the United States Capitol Police Department. Also present was Kenosha Police Officer Brittany Meronek who joined Kenosha Police Department in January of this year.
During the investigation following the initial incident, Mr. Blake admitted that he had a knife in his possession. DCI agents recovered a knife from the driver’s side floorboard of Mr. Blake’s vehicle. A search of the vehicle located no additional weapons.
Law enforcement immediately provided medical aid to Mr. Blake. Flight for Life transported Mr. Blake to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. Mr. Blake remains at the hospital.
DCI is leading this investigation and is assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Wisconsin State Patrol and Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office. All involved law enforcement are fully cooperating with DCI during this investigation. The involved officers have been placed on administrative leave.
DCI is continuing to review evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over investigative reports to a prosecutor following a complete and thorough investigation.
When DCI is the lead investigating agency of a shooting involving a law enforcement officer, DCI aims to provide a report of the incident to the prosecutor within 30 days. The prosecutor then reviews the report and makes a determination about what charges, if any, are appropriate. If the prosecutor determines there is no basis for prosecution of the law enforcement officer, DCI will thereafter make the report available to the public.
Questions regarding Mr. Blake’s other matter or custodial status can be directed to Kenosha District Attorney.
No additional details are currently available.
Please direct all media inquiries regarding this incident to DOJ.