41-year-old Milwaukee Police Officer Marco A. López Pleaded Guilty To Felony Misconduct In Office-Fraud In The Death Of An Inmate In Custody, Gets 24 Months Probation

López pleaded guilty to one felony count of misconduct in office and fraud and three other charges reduced to misdemeanor counts in a plead agreement with prosecutors.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 10, 2024

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Friday, Marco A. López, 41, a Milwaukee Police Officer under full suspension in a plea agreement resolution with the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office (MCDAO) pleaded guilty to one felony count for misconduct in office and three other felony counts were reduced to misdemeanors, according to Milwaukee County court records. 

Officer López sentences were stayed and López received 24 months of probation. According to court records, "Court held Sentencing Open and ordered matter set for a review hearing. Upon successful completion of Probation in Counts 4, 5, 6 court will order case Dismissed."

In addition, López was prohibited from seeking employment with Milwaukee Police Department, as a felon, he prohibited from having a firearm, and must do 100 hours of community service.

López was previously  charged with one felony count for misconduct/office-fraud/record/statement (making false record entries) in connection with the in-custody death of Keishon D. Thomas, 20, at Milwaukee Police Department District Station 5 in 2022.

According to the criminal complaint, Officer López was to check Keishon and other individuals (inmates) in custody at the District Station 5 every 15 minutes during his shift. Video surveillance footage from inside the station showed that López did not check on the inmates including Keishon at least 10 times who were in custody.

Officer López was found to have falsely logged 10 times in the cell block booking sheet that he in fact checked on the inmates that were locked up, when in fact video surveillance footage inside the police station showed he did not.

Another Milwaukee Police Officer Donald W. Krueger, 50, pleaded no contest in March 2024 and was convicted for one felony count of misconduct in office and fraud in connection with the February 2022 death of Thomas while in custody. Former Milwaukee Police Officer Krueger retired before the felony conviction.

Krueger's sentencing under a plea agreement with the MCDAO, he was fined $5,000 and will serve no prison time, according to court records.

According to the criminal complaint, Krueger neglected Keishon, who was confined at the Milwaukee Police District 5 Station. He neglected Keishon by failing to garner him medical attention, despite seeing Keishon dry heave multiple times, being informed Keishon had recently ingested multiple controlled substances, noting Keishon's profuse sweating, and stating he was going to call an ambulance, which Krueger never did. Keishon ultimately died in custody at the district station.

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

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Physical, Verbal And Aggressive Assaults, Including Engaging In Jokes Gone Bad Against Street Cart Vendors (Paleteros/Eloteros/Food Truck Vendors) Should Be Considered Hate Crimes

The State of Wisconsin including Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee don't consider physically and verbally assaulting and engaging in jokes gone bad against street cart vendors, corn cart vendors and food truck vendors a hate crime.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 10, 2024

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - With the Trump MAGA Cult (RNC 2024) National Convention scheduled for July 15-18, 2024 in the City of Milwaukee, which thousands of extreme far right MAGAs (Make Amerikkka Great Again) cult Trump supporters and supremacists expected to arrive in the City, tensions will definitely flare because their known political objective including Trump is to promote anti-immigrant sentiment and hate rhetoric targeted at people of color, especially Latinos and the undocumented taxpaying worker. In order to disrupt the economic base, create division and hate among vibrant diverse communities.

Last weekend on Sunday, during the Cinco de Mayo 2024 (May 5th) impromptu flag waving parading and cruising celebrations at Mitchell Park, Ricardo Mondragon-Martinez, 39, a Paletería Yayo street cart vendor was targeted by Aaron Thompson III, 26, who is Afro-American and other individuals while the incident was video recorded and it went viral in social media.

The video that appeared in social media (FB) shows, Thompson taking Mondragon-Martinez's popsicle street cart without permission, tipped it over and then ran away while laughing as others in the immediate area also laughed.

Thompson made a public apology the next day, which was facilitated by the Wisconsin Brown Berets, after a reward of $500 leading to the identity of the Black individual that aggressively assaulted a paletero was offered by a Milwaukee Latino couple,  Rafael and Adriana Bungee Hernández. It didn't take long to identify Thompson.

On Wednesday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (MJS) reported that Thompson had allegedly stated that Mondragon-Martinez, the Yayo paletero didn't want to sell him a popsicle, and a language barrier might have triggered the paletero assault incident. Thompson told the MJS that what he did was "a joke gone bad", but that he later apologized to Mondragon-Martinez and gave him $60.

If a reward wouldn't have been offered by the Hernández couple to identity Thompson, he might have gotten away with it.

The video of the incident posted on Facebook (FB) definitely shows that Thompson allegedly committed a criminal act against Mondragon-Martinez at a Milwaukee County Park, but Thompson's mere explanation that it was just a joke gone bad has many of his supporters saying that it was just a joke, in an attempt that Thompson doesn't get charged with a crime for his aggressive assault against Mondragon-Martinez.

Thompson's act is just one of many that street cart vendors endure around the the U.S. and in Milwaukee. According to Rene Adan, the owner of Paletería Yayo, LLC in Milwaukee, his employees experience aggressive attacks, being robbed and beaten at least once a week, but in Mondragon-Martinez's case, it's the first time it was video recorded and it went viral bringing attention that something needs to be done to protect street cart vendors including corn street vendors and taco food truck vendors.

According to sources that want to remain anonymous, Mondragon-Martinez reported several weeks ago that he was assaulted and robbed. Once it can be confirmed, HNNUSA will make it public.

In Wisconsin, Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee, there is no current law making it a hate crime to aggressively attack, physically and verbally assault and engaging in jokes gone bad against street cart vendors, corn vendors and taco food truck vendors. It's time to enact a hate crime law to protect hard working street cart vendors and others!

Justice for Ricardo Article at link: https://shorturl.at/jzKPZ

Editor's note:

What if Aaron Thompson III did the same act "joke gone bad" at a Milwaukee County Park to a White man, woman or kid? Most likely, he would be in jail facing criminal charges. We can't ignore that in Milwaukee County there are three types of systems of justice that is practiced between Whites, cops and people of color. 

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

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26-year-old Mark A. Courtney Jr. Charged For Shooting Milwaukee Police Officer In Leg At S. Chávez Drive On Cinco De Mayo 2024

Courtney told police that he shot at another man in self-defense after cutting in line at a nearby restaurant, but as a felon, he can't carry a firearm.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 9, 2024

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Wednesday, Mark A. Courtney Jr., 26, was charged with one felony count for 1st-degree recklessly endangering safety including use of a dangerous weapon and 1st-degree reckless injury including use of a dangerous weapon for the Cinco de Mayo 2024 (May 5th) shooting of a 29-year-old Milwaukee police officer and nearly striking a second officer at S. César E. Chávez Drive and W. Scott Street. 

If convicted, Courtney is facing up to 12 and 6 months in prison and up to $25,000 in fines, or both for endangering safety, and up to 25 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines, or both for reckless injury. Each felony count carries an enhancer, which adds another 5 years in prison for using a dangerous weapon.

According to the criminal complaint, Courtney went to the Jalisco Restaurant and got into an argument with another man who apparently cut in line in front of Courtney. They argued and Courtney briefly left and then returned when he told police that the other man was coming out and he thought the man had a gun in his waistband. Courtney says, fearing for his life, he shot at the man several times. Video surveillance cameras at the restaurant showed, the other man never reached for a weapon when Courtney shot at him. 

Police recovered 4 spent cartridges in front of the Mexican restaurant and one shot at a window frame.

A 29-year-old Milwaukee police officer standing about a block away was hit by gunfire in the upper leg and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Another police officer reported that a bullet went by his head, but didn't strike him.

Courtney told police he had a carry conceal permit.

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

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33-year-old Luis Pérez-García Charged With Fatal Hit-and-run Deaths Of Two Nicaraguan Brothers In Milwaukee's Southside On Cinco de Mayo 2024

Pérez-García fled the scene after striking two Nicaraguan brothers in the Southside of Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 9, 2024

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, Luis Pérez-García, 33, was charged with two felony counts for hit-and-run involving deaths, and two felony counts for knowingly driving without a driver's license causing deaths on early Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) causing hit-and-run deaths of Ausberto Gutiérrez, 41, aka, "Beto Ausberton" and Michael "Maycol" Gutiérrez, 39. originally from Nicaragua at the 1900 block of W. Lincoln Ave..

If convicted, Pérez-García is facing up to 25 years in prison and $100,000 in fines, or both for hit-and-run causing death, each count, and up to 6 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines, or both for each count.

According to the criminal complaint, Pérez-García was driving a vehicle heading Eastbound on W. Lincoln Ave. and struck both the Gutiérrez brothers who were standing by a parked vehicle, several other people were also inside the parked vehicle, which was also struck. Pérez-García did not stop and fled the scene.

Police investigating the hit-and-run deaths recovered nearby video surveillance camera footage in the area showing a White SUV heading Eastbound on W. Lincoln Ave. with damage to the front passenger's side of the SUV and a broken left headlight.

Milwaukee police later located a White Chevrolet Traverse SUV at S. 5th Street and W. Arthur Ave..

Apparently, the Gutiérrez brothers had just arrived at their destination (residence) with a woman who gave them a ride and they were saying goodbye to her and giving her some money for the ride, when Pérez-García fatally struck them.

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

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39-year-old Ricardo Mondragon-Martinez, The Paletería Yayo Popsicle Street Vendor Who Was The Victim Of An Aggressive Assault At Mitchell Park Arrested In Milwaukee

Mondragon-Martinez is being held at the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office jail on a warrant from Outagamie County.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 8, 2024

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Monday, Ricardo Mondragon-Martinez, 39, was taken into custody and booked at the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office jail and was placed on hold (no bail) for the Appleton Police Department. According to court records, Mondragon-Martinez has had an open bench warrant since November 19, 2018 in Outagamie County for one misdemeanor count for operating a vehicle without a driver's license (second offense in 3 years). He was charged with the misdemeanor on June 13, 2018, according to court records.

If convicted in Outagamie County, Mondragon-Martinez is facing up to 6 months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines, or both.

Mondragon-Martinez was charged on Wednesday, May 8, in Milwaukee County with assault indecent exposure or intoxication, which is only a forfeiture U (fine), a $484.00 bond was set. Mondragon-Martinez is scheduled for a intake hearing for July 3, 2024.

On September 20, 2023, Mondragon-Martinez pleaded no contest in Milwaukee County to possession of alcohol beverages and was fined $326.50, which is still due today. 

A Facebook (FB) video of Mondragon-Martinez went viral on Sunday when Aaron Thompson III,  who is Afro-American took Mondragon-Martinez's Paletería Yayo popsicle cart without permission, tipped it over and then fled laughing at Mitchell Park on Cinco de Mayo 2024. Mondragon-Martinez, a Mexican popsicle street vendor with Paletería Yayo began drinking after the incident and a majority of the Southside Latino community using FB became outraged and called for Mondragon-Martinez to get Justice.

Thompson III on Monday after he was identified apologized to Mondragon-Martinez in person during a gathering organized by the Wisconsin Brown Berets in the Southside of Milwaukee. Thompson III gave Mondragon-Martinez $100 after apologizing to him. (Full article link: https://shorturl.at/jzKPZ)

Update: The Wisconsin Brown Berets announced that Mondragon-Martinez was bailed out from the Outagamie County Sheriff's Office jail and remains free on bond.

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

Donations accepted/ se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

Justice For Ricardo, The Southside Paletero (Mexican Popsicle Street Vendor) Who Became The Victim Of An Aggressive Assault At Mitchell Park On Cinco De Mayo 2024

The alleged assailant, Aaron Thompson III came out on social media accompanied by a member of the Wisconsin Brown Berets making an apology and offering to give Ricardo, the Mexican popsicle street vendor $100, after a $500 reward was offered leading to the identity of the Black individual that took the paletero's cart without permission and tipped it over, while running away and laughing about it. A posted Facebook video of the incident at Mitchell Park went viral and Thompson III was quickly identified. (Video link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/DJu487NnzC7twPnp/)

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 7, 2024

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Monday, the Black suspect who allegedly took a Paletería Yayo Mexican popsicle cart without permission and then tipped it as he fled running and laughing at Mitchell Park was identified as Aaron Thompson III, soon after a $500 reward was offered by Rafael Hernández and Adriana Bungee Hernández for information leading to his identity.

Thompson III on Monday in a posted Facebook (FB) video by Walter Garron who identified himself as a Wisconsin Brown Beret introduced Thompson III, who then confessed that he took the paletero cart, tipped it and ran from the scene laughing, which the Sunday incident was video recorded at Mitchell Park and went viral once the video clip was posted on FB. (Facebook video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/P7HZAKrLYS9zEWmF/)

The viral video of the incident created outrage in the Southside of Milwaukee and a majority of FB users in social media continue to demand "Justice for Ricardo", the Paletería Yayo, LLC street cart vendor who was victimized at Mitchell Park.

So far, the usual wannabe Latino leaders (who only pose for mainstream media cameras on occasion) haven't organized a public hearing inviting police and the diverse Southside community and those effected to condemned all the chaotic Cinco de Mayo 2024 flag waving parading and cruising celebrations, reported shooting incident at W. Historic Michell St. and S. César E. Chávez Drive, including a Milwaukee police officer getting shot in the upper leg at S. Chávez Drive over the weekend in the Southside.

In Garron's FB video, Thompson III apologized for what he did and explained that he did it as joking around and stated that he was going to give Ricardo $100 and buy additional Mexican popsicles to be given away at a planned Mitchell Park cleanup gathering in the parking lot on Saturday at 10:00 a.m., which is being organized by Garron. Thompson III is expected to be at Mitchell Park on Saturday to help with the Mitchell Park cleanup.

A FB post dated April 30th by Milwaukee County Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez and neighborhood volunteers are planning a Mitchell Park cleanup on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. behind the Mitchell Park Domes located in the Southside of Milwaukee.

Garron says that, if his planned cleanup at Mitchell Park goes beyond noon on Saturday, as a goodwill and community unity gesture, his group will gladly join Supervisor Martinez's cleanup group.

Supervisor Martinez released the following statement on Monday after Sunday's incident involving Thompson III and the Yayo paletero Ricardo, "It is extremely disappointing to see individuals causing disruptions at events meant to uplift our community. I am working to ensure that we make Cinco de Mayo a Countysponsored event in the future with proper security, not just police officers standing at entrances and exits, failing to address the altercations actually going on. Together, as a community, we can mitigate these situations by using the parks as a tool to stop these appalling incidents in the future." 

A second FB video posted by Garron who is working to unite both the Black and Latino Communities including defusing the current tensions and situation shows Thompson III at the Paletería Yayo location at the 1700 block of W. Lincoln Ave. showing Garron, Thompson III, Rene Adan, the owner of Paletería Yayo, LLC and Ricardo, the paletero victim of Thompson's aggression on Sunday. (Facebook video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/DRadvoM2bE72mM5T/)

Adan, the owner of Paletería Yayo also posted a FB video saying that when Ricardo came out on Garron's FB video with Thompson III, Ricardo was allegedly intoxicated and made some out of place comments. Adan also stated that he wasn't aware of what happened at Mitchell Park and Thompson III's aggression against Ricardo, and that Recardo had started drinking after the incident on Sunday. Adan vowed to meet with police and the local alderman to seek justice for Ricardo and to address continued assaults and robberies targeted at paleteros. Once Ricardo can explain to Adan what actually occurred at Mitchell Park, Adan will then decide, if he will seek criminal charges against Thompson III on behalf of Paletería Yayo and Ricardo. Adan says that his employees (paleteros) have been robbed and assaulted on a daily basis, but on Sunday, an aggressive assault committed by Thompson III against Ricardo was video recorded and it went viral. (Facebook video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/2amTiTYLdnrfBSDp/)

Garron told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) when contacted Monday that Thompson III had contacted him to make an apology to the Southside community and to Ricardo, after Garron first posted Thompson's FB profile sent to him by several FB users who identified him. When Garron was asked, if he noticed before the interview at the Paletería Yayo business that Ricardo was showing signs of being intoxicated, Garron replied "Yes".

In addition, FB users that were at Mitchell Park on Sunday alleged that several black individuals in a Infinity vehicle stole from Rricardo and that one had been taken into custody. HNNUSA hasn't been able to confirm the incident.

Also, another viral video at Mitchell Park showed two Black individuals being taken into custody. A Milwaukee County Sheriff's deputy pulled a AR-15 style loaded pistol from the individual's waistband. Another deputy is seen unloading the weapon.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office hasn't reported any information about their arrests. No weapons are allowed in Milwaukee County Parks.

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

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Suspect Fired Multiple Shots At S. Chávez Drive And W. Historic Mitchell Street After Two Women Fought During Cinco De Mayo 2024 Chaotic Impromptu Crowd Gathering

An unidentified man was taken into custody after he allegedly fired multiple shots to the air just as two women brawled in the middle of the intersection.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 5, 2024

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Sunday, around 8:15 p.m. Milwaukee police responded to the intervention of S. César E. Chávez Drive and W. Historic Mitchell Street to multiple shots fired. An armed male suspect was taken into custody by police.

According to a social media video posted on Facebook by Alvarez Maybelline, two women are seen in a brawl and then a male in a light sweatshirt intervenes while taking out a handgun, loaded the chamber and fired into air and then he walked West on Mitchell from S. Chávez Drive and fired multiple shots, and he then walked back to Chávez Drive as he was being video recorded from inside a vehicle at the corner. (Facebook video link: https://tinyurl.com/295r4dz8)

No one was reported injured. According to other individuals at the scene, a group of small motor bikes had gathered at the intersection and were burning rubber as police were about a block away.

Earlier, police had closed all 5 side streets between W. Greenfield Ave. to W. National Ave. along S. Chávez Drive at 6:00 p.m. and prohibited taco food trucks and vehicles from parking along Chávez Drive to avoid a gathering of Cinco de Mayo 2024 impromptu chaotic flag waving parading and cruising celebrations.

But a brawl broke out at S. Chávez Drive and W. Scott Street in the afternoon in front of McDonald's. Police were able to respond quickly. https://tinyurl.com/k8p624r4

Several incidents occurred at Mitchell Park, a crowd gathered and multiple Black men taunted a paletero (Mexican popsicle seller), one of the men took the popsicle cart and dumped it on the parking lot. The second incident, Milwaukee County Sheriff deputies arrested two Black men and one had a loaded short AK-15 pistol on his waistband. 

A reward of $500 is being offered by Rafael Hernández and Adriana Bungee Hernández for information leading to the individual who tipped the paletero cart at Mitchell Park.

https://tinyurl.com/2yak55wr 

Hernández told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that shortly after posting the reward on social media, he received multiple responses that identified Aaron Thompson, 26, as the suspect who intentionally tipped the paletero cart.

On Friday and Saturday, all of the businesses along the S. César E. Chávez Drive including 7 taco food trucks failed to generate an estimated $512K of business sales compared to 2023 on the same Cinco de Mayo weekend.

This year, the impromptu flag waving parading and cruising crowds moved to the intersection of S. Chávez Drive and W. Historic Mitchell Street.

A business owner along S. Chávez Drive after hearing about the recent shooting, claimed that Milwaukee police only succeeded in criminalizing the S. Chávez Drive Bid 38 corridor and kept customers from shopping and patronizing the area.

Last year, several shootings were reported at a impromptu chaotic flag waving parading and cruising gathering at S. Chávez Drive and W. Scott Street, which a 17-year-old male was shot by police, arrested, charged with a felony and convicted.

Update: On Sunday, May 5, 2024 around 10:52 p.m., a Milwaukee police officer was reported shot thru the upper leg at S. Chávez Drive and W. Scott Street in the Southside of Milwaukee. A tourniquet was applied and he is expected to survive.

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

Donations accepted/ se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t