One year ago: New York Gov. Barton says that Wisconsin has had many officer-involved shootings and custody deaths. Daniel Gaitan. During pretrial depositions, Bell and his lawyers questioned inconsistencies in the official account that contradicted physical evidence and accounts from eyewitnesses outside the police department. The daughter of the late Edward and Virginia [], John Hazelhurst Kambs, age 75, of Twin Lakes, WI, died on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Aurora Medical Center Burlington. ", An unarmed Michael Bell Jr. was shot and killed by Kenosha police officers in front of his parents' home in 2004. The document appears to indicate that Morrissey completed the 40 courses for his degree over a 16-month period a pace that both Beckman and Bell found unbelievable. Bell has said he believes Haags examination of the bullet would uncover more evidence toward an accurate portrayal of how his sons death unfolded. Police testified that Officer Gonzales was standing to Michaels left when he shot Michael in the left side of his head. Kim Marie Bell Obituary (1958 - 2023) | Kenosha, Wisconsin Bell offers another detail to support his contention that his son never touched Strausbaughs gun: In a 2005 State Crime Lab report on the shooting, investigators stated they found no evidence of the younger Bells DNA on the weapon. IN PHOTOS: Michael Bell shooting through the years Gonzalesthen shot Bell Jr. in the head. We asked for the bullet to be examined because nobody knows the truth, yet, about what has gone on, Bell said Friday. Beckman filed a 107-page appealon July 12, and on July 20, the office said it would "further review" the grievance. Michael M. Bell says he is not accusing Strausbaugh, who took his own life in 2010, of deliberately lying in his description of the incident. Numerous armed officers were present when they pinned an unarmed Michael against a vehicle in his driveway and fatally shot him in the head. He was born on September 16th, 1984, in Waukegan, IL, to Paul and Connie (Hayes) Roark. If that dent could be linked to the bullet that killed his son, Bell says, it would support his scenario for the shooting: that the bullet was fired in the direction of the garage. Legislative police reform package calls for creation of - Kenosha News You have permission to edit this article. In a January deposition for the libel lawsuit, Gonzalez told Bells lawyer the fifth officers full name. The absence of DNA as well as the other discrepancies in the account would warrant a second look, he told the prosecutor. Michael M. Bell filed suit Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, in Kenosha County Circuit Court after his requests to obtain the bullet dating back to last year were denied repeatedly. Kenosha News Recent Obituaries: All of Kenosha News's Recent Obituaries He said the shooting of Bell Jr. in 2004 is "all in the past. Bell had asked that he be allowed access to the bullet that killed his son about 17 years ago outside the garage at his home on the citys south side for further investigation and analysis. I would like to see a proper investigation conducted, Bell said in one of several interviews with the Wisconsin Examiner over the last two years about the case. Records suggest she turned it, Misogyny is fueling the countrys gun violence epidemic,, Voting: registration, locations, absentee ballots. "So if you know this officer, if you've worked with him before, can you really be objective in terms of evaluating that shooting? Bell's father, Michael Bell Sr., hired his own investigators, who discovered considerable inconsistencies with the police account. Wisconsin Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Michael Bell Sr. (center) and his family stand near one of the billboards they bought in a campaign to bring awareness to internal police investigations. He has filed documents seeking to question not just OLR officials but also state DOJ personnel, questioning statements that the DA had made about his communication with the crime lab analysts. The Police Department ruled the shooting justified and the Kenosha County district attorney at the time, Robert Jambois, didnt issue charges. What really happened the night Michael Bell's son died? In Wisconsins great progressive tradition, we aim to hold the powerful accountable to the people, follow the money, and dig out the truth. Bell raised the subject again during the public comment period before the city councils July 6 meeting, and got no response. You guys know Ive been a pain. Bell who is called Mitchell Smith in the book sued Gonzalez for libel for inventing a quote attributed to Smith that implied he was seeking vengeance against Gonzalez. Barton says Bell's mother and sister, who were watching the altercation unfold, heard the officer as well and they tried to yell that Michael Bell did not have the officer's gun. In the audio of this story, as in a previous Web version, we incorrectly say Bell was pulled over for suspicion of drunken driving and running a stop sign. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. He was born on March 1st, 1970, in Illinois, to [], Diane Reed, (Kohler/Schiller) age 75 a resident of Pleasant Prairie died April 11th, 2023, at Aurora medical Center in Mt. Another tick-borne disease is on the rise in the U.S. Bells repeated attempts to interest the city, the Kenosha County District Attorneys office, the courts and the Wisconsin Department of Justice in re-examining his sons death have all hit dead-ends. Bell bought every available billboard in Milwaukee with slogans like: "When Police Kill, Should They Judge Themselves?". Bell vowed to continue running newspaper ads about the incident and nationwide commercials demanding answers. Tony Evers, charging that Attorney General Josh Kaul and the DOJ had ignored his repeated requests for the agency to take a new look at his sons death. Timothy Bell Obituary (2017) - Racine, WI - Kenosha News - Legacy.com Mayor Antaramian refuses to release a bullet that may refute KPDs version of the shooting. Kenosha.com is a local, digital media platform offering interesting, engaging content created by experienced journalists and local professionals. The city subsequently agreed to settle the lawsuit, paying Bell $1.75 million in 2010. In the nearly 17 years since 21-year-old Michael E. Bell was shot and killed by Kenosha, Wisconsin, police in front of his home, his father, Michael M. Bell Sr. has made it his life's work to . 0:43. In March 2020, Gonzales self-published a 102-page book about the Bell shooting titled "A Fateful Two Minutes." Keep updated on the latest news and information. TIMOTHY BELL OBITUARY Timothy Bell Timothy "Tim" Bell, Professor Emeritus U.W. Born on November 17, 1938, to the late Lester and Edith (Hardegen) Ruka, she attended local [], Sylvia Rapp, 65, of Kenosha passed away on Sunday April 9, 2023 at Aurora Medical Center surrounded by her loving family. Bell timed the ads to run when the eyes of much of the world were on Kenosha because of the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot and killed two people and wounded a third in August 2020 during the unrest that followed the police shooting of Jacob Blake. 0:08. They took out ads in the New York Times, in USA Today and on radio and created TV commercials. Gina Barton, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's law enforcement investigative reporter, covered the story back in 2004. ", Bell Jr. was pulled over by Kenosha police in November 2004. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Kenosha police arrest man after mother interrupts attempted attack on teen in home, Kenosha man charged after allegedly entering stranger's home and assaulting girl Sunday morning, One of the top U.S. Netflix shows right now has a Wisconsin connection, UPDATED WITH VIDEO: Suspect wanted in attempt to run over officer with vehicle in Illinois arrested after crashing, then climbing 40 feet up tree in Pleasant Prairie, City of Kenosha approves Independence Day festivities; thousands expected to turn out, Van crashes through former Kenosha Bed Bath & Beyond store; no injuries, according to police, Morgan Wallen fans upset about abrupt concert cancellation, Community Library Board meeting draws crowd of supporters, critics. A 30-year-old Kenosha woman is facing numerous criminal charges after allegedly burglarizing a home and neglecting her children. Bell filed a lawsuit in September 2021 demanding the bullet. Thats important, the elder Bell says, because it calls into question the assumption that the officers at the scene were in danger. Evers lawyer subsequently told Bell that the governor lacked the authority to investigate the attorney general. Two lawsuits that Bell filed one demanding that the city release the bullet that killed his son, the other accusing the officer who killed his son of libel have been dismissed; those rulings are on appeal. Ive put up billboards, Ive called out the city, Bell said. Kim Marie Bell, 64, formerly of Kenosha, late of Milwaukee, passed away peacefully, Sunday, February 12, 2023 at her residence. The university, citing privacy laws, refused to discuss Morriseys transcript with the Wisconsin Examiner. Michael M. Bell Post Office Box 42 Kenosha, WI 53141-0042 Plea4Change@aol.com (262) 553-2194 Ryan Franklin Bell Obituary (1975 - 2023) | Salem, Wisconsin - Echovita Based on the police account, the bullet would have been fired away from the garage. Strausbaugh grabbed Bell and brought him back toward the driveway, helped by a second officer, Erich Weidner. documentary video says the pattern of the blood also supports the conclusion that his son was shot on the right side rather than the left. "But as far as I can tell, it was a miscommunication and a misunderstanding that lead to [Bell's] death.". Born in [], Dolores Mae (Gratz) Fox Foxie, age 80, passed away at Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital on Saturday, April 1, 2023, surrounded by her loving family after a short illness. he father of a man police fatally shot outside his Kenosha home in 2004 filed a lawsuit this week against the city seeking access to the bullet that killed his son. Bell and his family filed a federal civil suit in 2005 against the officers involved. Michael M. Bells son was killed in the driveway of his mothers home the elder Bells ex-wife. He vowed to take the case to the Court of Appeals and to continue investigating his sons death. Each reenactment was inconsistent with the forensic evidence. (Photo via Bells Plea For a Change Facebook page.). It wasn't until later that we realized just how little of an investigation had been done. "Is the prosecutor looking at the case by the facts involved or are they looking at it through the lens of a 30-year relationship (with law enforcement)," Bell said. So they were cleared really quickly. "So to clear themselves in 48 hours, I was just completely flabbergasted.". Barton says. Bell Sr. said Gonzales' decision to run for sheriff doesn't seem rational. "After we created enough ruckus, the unions ended up sitting down with us and talking with us," Bell says. Bell charges that is why the city, the police department and the Kenosha County district attorney have all rejected his calls to reexamine the incident. Bell believes the dent was made by a bullet, and a ballistics expert he hired reported that the dent had traces of lead. Kenosha County Circuit Judge Chad Kerkman dismissed the lawsuit Feb. 7, 2022; Bell has appealed the dismissal. Kim Marie Bell 1958 - 2023 MILWAUKEE - Kim Marie Bell, 64, formerly of Kenosha, late of Milwaukee, passed away peacefully, Sunday, February 12, 2023 at her residence. And the decade-old death has led to real reform in the state. After the younger Bells death, the autopsy report identified the bullet entrance wound on the right side of his head, with the exit wound toward the back of his head on the left side. . That computer-generated document lists the same courses and grades as the version that is in Morrisseys personnel file, but does not indicate when the courses were taken. City Attorney Ed Antaramian on Friday said he could not comment at length on the matter. Morrissey denied that accusation when he spoke with an investigator who Bell hired in an effort to verify whether the transcript was accurate. Bullet lawsuit, complaint to governor. She was born on December 28th, 1934, to the late Walter and Mae (Czochara) [], Pamela M. Kraft age 79 of Randall, WI died April 24, 2023. Community members collaborate to repaint Nifty Thrifty Resale Shop, Mattel introduces first Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome. The younger Bell was killed by police following a traffic stop on Nov. 9, 2004. They told him that if he wanted to take the billboards down, they would work with him in crafting some the legislation he sought. State Looking Into Whether District Attorney Mishandled Bell Investigation. Bell Sr. then accused the officers of excessive force and violating his sons civil rights in a federal wrongful death lawsuit. Although we give you the inside scoop, we are not a publication for insiders. Instead, we cover the way politics and government affect citizens of the state. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. On November 9, 2004, a Kenosha police officer shot Michael Bell in the head one day before Michael was to testify at a court hearing regarding a previous incident with the same officer who stopped him this last fatal time. Citizens in Kenosha can no longer remain quiet, and the public must know all about the many problems in this case and the refusal of city administration to address these problems.. Community members collaborate to repaint Nifty Thrifty Resale Shop, Katy Perry loses name trademark battle, James Corden signs off The Late Late Show, and more celeb news. Bell had asked that he be allowed access to the bullet that killed Michael E. Bell Jr. about 17 years ago outside the garage at his home on the citys south side for further investigation and analysis. Michael R. Montemurro, 86, of Kenosha, was called to heaven on Saturday, May 2, 2015, at Banner Hospice in Sun City West, Ariz. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Ryan Franklin Bell of Salem, Wisconsin, who passed away on March 21, 2023, at the age of 47, leaving to mourn family and friends. Pleasant. Private Services were held. In 2020, Gonzalez, the officer who shot Bells son, self-published a book giving his own account of the shooting. The Kenosha mayors only response was to send the Examiner a four-page table of investigations, reports and public statements, with summaries for each item that concluded there were no grounds for reopening the matter. View Kenosha obituaries on Legacy, the most timely and comprehensive collection of local obituaries for Kenosha, Wisconsin, updated regularly throughout the day with submissions from newspapers . The city settled for $1.75 million. Aug 24, 2020 KENOSHA, Wis. For Michael Bell, the shooting of Jacob Blake hits especially close to home. After Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley declined to launch a John Doe investigation into the shooting in 2017, Bell and Beckman filed a grievance with the Office of Lawyer Regulation an agency of the state Supreme Court. Please subscribe to keep reading. He was born September 16, 1936, in Reedsburg, WI, the [], Vera Verda Meinhardt, age 102, formerly of Marshfield and Greenwood, passed away at The Legacy at St. Josephs in Kenosha on April 22, 2023. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. The Kenosha police officer who was the subject of a $1.75 million wrongful death settlement is running for sheriff as an office of the Wisconsin Supreme Court considers the conduct of thecounty district attorney. Born in Milo, IA on June 20, 1947, he was the son of [], Susan Burke, 68, of Kenosha passed away on April 23, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. [], Lois Annette Travor, age 79, passed away at her residence on Sunday, April 2, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. That case also has been dismissed. Susan was born on October 15, 1954, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Gilbert [], Gary L. Brockman, 86 years old of Kenosha, WI passed away Friday, April 28, 2023, at Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital. Michael E. Bell Wisconsin Department Of Justice Jacob Blake Shooting Van Wanggaard Lena Taylor Senate Judiciary And Public Safety Committee 21st Senate District National Transportation Safety. Police officers unlawfully applied deadly force against Michael Bell. The police shooting of Michael Bell was wrong. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. You can cancel at any time. With this voluminous new submission, I presume the director would want his professional staff to do due diligence,"Graveley said in an emailed statement. When Graveley was elected Kenosha County district attorney in 2017, Bell Sr. urged him to reexamine the case and open aninvestigation. And is it really proper for the police to be policing themselves? Michael Bell is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Wisconsin eviction process: What happens to a tenants property? On November 9, 2004, a Kenosha police officer shot Michael Bell in the head one day before Michael was to testify at a court hearing regarding a previous incident with the same officer who stopped him this last fatal time. Gina Barton, of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, says that one of the experts hired by Bell came up with a theory that the gun had probably gotten caught on the rear-view mirror of the car near the scuffle. A struggle ensued, and while his mom and sister watched from the house, Bell was shot, point-blank, in the head. But there was no admission of wrongdoing, and the police maintained that Michael Bell Jr. caused his own death. Strausbaugh shouted several times that Bell had his gun. Gonzales' candidacy was first reported by Wisconsin Public Radio. You have permission to edit this article. Suit seeking access to bullet in 2004 Michael E. Bell shooting by Kenosha police dismissed. Daniel Gaitan. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. The family used the settlement money to fund a grassroots campaign. While Boyles order noted that there had been contradictory descriptions of the incident, the judge minimized the significance of the absence of DNA. She is survived by her loving husband Randy; her [], John Edward Miles, August 15, 1940 April 16, 2023 John E. Miles, age 82, passed away at his residence on Sunday, April 16, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. She was born January 14, 1935, in Gaustadt/Bamberg, Germany, the [], Albert (Al) J. Arzt, age 85, passed away peacefully on April 23, 2023. The actions of the officers involved were deemed justified after an internal investigation. Surviving are his wife, Gerry; children,. The Office of Lawyer Regulation in May wrote to Beckman saying there was insufficient evidence to support an allegation of misconduct. In the mass email message that Bell sent on June 30 and in an interview, Bell said he believes Morrissey was involved in blocking the release of the bullet. Born in Cleveland, OH on July 29, 1939, [], Shirley passed away on April 11, 2023, at the age of 96. Michael Bell continues attacks on mayor, city administrator regarding It was dismissed by Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Chad Kerkman on Thursday. A fourth officer, Albert Gonzalez, arrived on the scene. In Wisconsin, A Decade-Old Police Shooting Leads To New Law Still, Ezells report concludes that Morrissey did appear on paper to be a graduate of the program. More:Kenosha police have killed at least 5 people in last 17 years, Weve seen this type of delusion before with him, Bell Sr. said of Gonzales. Find the obituary of Kim Marie Bell (1958 - 2023) from Kenosha, WI. You do the best you can, even with that misinterpretation.. In 2001, according to his city personnel file, Morrissey received a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice through Kaplan Colleges, a for-profit college. The Kenosha Police Department gave sworn statements to justify their conduct that are unsupported by the physical evidence. A 43-year-old Racine man is facing numerous criminal charges after allegedly attempting to flee from Kenosha County Sheriffs Department deput. Im planning on running those not only regionally but also on some high-profile events.. Scott Walker passed the bill into law. He has created a website and Facebook page and commissioned a, that is posted on YouTube, highlighting elements of that official account that, Beckman, the retired detective working with Bell, disputes Graveleys claim about the so-called touch DNA. In 2021, Beckman, with the state Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR).