Police Records No Longer Open in Many Communities

Fear over multimillion dollar lawsuits has prompted many departments to strictly follow requirements in the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act that may or may not apply. And in doing so, they're violating the state's open records law.

A legal battle in Illinois over a $20 parking ticket could potentially cost a Chicago suburb tens of millions of dollars — and fear that the case could have implications here is prompting many Milwaukee-area police departments to drastically clamp down on how much information they’re releasing to the public. In a matter of months, police departments from Caledonia to Port Washington have stopped providing names of people their officers are arresting, ticketing or contacting, and, in some cases, won’t even release details on where a crime occurred because of the pending litigation in Illinois. We could see a closing off of Wisconsin’s open records laws — laws that are considered among the strongest in the country. “There’s the real …

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PHOTOS: Our Favorite Police Mug Shots

Want a refresher on a few of Sussex's most recent criminals? Flip through our photo gallery of mugshots and check out their stories.

They did the crime, and some of them are doing the time. Flip through Sussex Patch's gallery of the most infamous people police picked up in the past year. Then, in the description of the photo, find the link to read our full coverage of what they got wrapped up in. Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook, because when a new mug shot graces Patch, we'll add it to our gallery. Tell us in the comments below: What story from the gallery still makes you think, "What were they thinking?!"

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Sussex Man Shoots Up Heroin, Passes Out in Pewaukee Parking Lot

Suspect passed out behind the wheel of a closed strip mall and is unable to explain how he got there.

A 21-year-old Sussex man is facing charges after he was found passed out in his Jaguar in a Pewaukee strip mall parking lot after shooting up heroin. Kevin P. O’Brien was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Monday with one count of possession of narcotic drugs, one count of possession of THC – the active ingredient in marijuana – one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of carrying a concealed weapon. If convicted, he faces up to nearly five years in prison and $21,500 in fines. According to the criminal complaint: At 12:30 a.m. Saturday, a Pewaukee police officer was on patrol in the 600 block of Ryan Street when he spotted a Jaguar parked across three parking spaces in a diagonal fashion with its lights on. He saw…

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Police Reports: Stealing Bears and Crushing Feet

From a mother who barely bat an eye when her son was hit by a car to a sassy cat fight, this is a list of the most interesting police reports in Sussex.

Tuesday, June 5 at 10:22 a.m. Police were called to the corner of Main Street and Maple Avenue Tuesday after man hit a child with his car, but the child’s mother didn’t worry about it until later. The 33-year-old mother called police four days after her 10-year-old child was struck by a driver. The mother talked with the man, but her child seemed fine, so the woman didn’t think to get the man’s information. It wasn’t until she eventually took her child to the doctor and realized there were medical costs racking up that the mother called police. They’re now looking for the mysterious driver based on a vague description of a car. Wednesday, June 6 at 6:58 p.m. A family living on the N70W23900 block of Prides Road called police on Wednesday …

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Police Reports: Underage Booze Sting and a Post Office Wrecking Ball

From three Sussex businesses getting citations for serving alcohol to underage kids to an elderly woman nearly taking down the Sussex Post Office, this is a list of the most interesting police reports this week.

Tuesday, May 29 at 10:38 a.m. Police were called to the Sussex Post Office off Silver Spring Drive on Tuesday after a woman literally drove into the building. A 69-year-old Sussex woman told police she was applying pressure to the brake when her foot slipped, slamming down on the accelerator of her car. The vehicle jumped the curb and smashed into the post office. While there’s no structural damage to the building, the woman’s car received enough damage for the airbags to deploy. She sustained no injuries. Tuesday, May 29 at 8:31 p.m. A 54-year-old Sussex man living on the W245N5700 block of Partridge Lane called police after finding out someone filed a tax return in his name. “It’s happening a lot lately,” said Capt. Karen Ruff of the …

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Sussex Man Gets Drunk and Breaks Into an Oconomowoc Home

Suspect tells police he vaguely remembers being in a home, but tells his brother he stole a $13,000 check from a home.

A 35-year-old Sussex man is facing charges after he broke into a Town of Oconomowoc home after a night of drinking with friends. Bryan M. Kinikin was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Thursday with one count of burglary. If convicted, he faces up to 12 ½ years in prison and $25,000 in fines. According to the criminal complaint: On April 5, a man living in the W34100 block of Jaeckles Drive called police after he woke up and found Kinikin inside his home. Kinikin appeared intoxicated and asked the man if Julie was home, but the man responded that it was the wrong house and shoved him out the door. The man then went to grab a cigarette, but found a pack that had been lying out was now gone. He then discovered his keys and a radio for …

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Police Reports: 'I Have Your Social Security Number'

From frightening phone calls to an angry elder, these are the most interesting police reports from Sussex.

Police Reports: 'I Have Your Social Security Number'

From frightening phone calls to an angry elder, these are the most interesting police reports from Sussex.

Thursday, April 26 at 4:34 p.m. A woman living on the 234N6600 block of Pewaukee Road called police Thursday after getting one to many scary phone calls. The 57-year-old Sussex woman apparently has received numerous phone calls over the last few weeks demanding payments between $6,000 and $13,000 in regards to a payday loan she never took out. The person says they have all her information, including her social security number, and can recite her bank account number correctly over the phone. Police are still investigating the problem. Thursday, April 26 at 5:31 p.m. Police were called to a home on the N74W23000 block of Ridgeview Circle after a man noticed someone hit the car parked in his driveway and drove off. The family was apparently …

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Police Reports: Tween Thieves and Plowing Down Bikers

From a man who obviously won't share the road with bikers to a teenage bling-ring, this is a list of the most interesting police reports from last week.

Friday, April 20 at 5:30 p.m. Sussex police were called to Kohl’s Department Store on Main Street Friday after store employees noticed four young girls stealing merchandise. It turns out the girls stole a slew of items like jewelry and underwear, so police issued them citations for retail theft. Two of the girls are 13-years-old from Sussex, one is 14-years-old from Butler and the last is 14-years-old from Sussex.  Saturday, April 21 at 2:38 p.m. The 51-year-old Menomonee Falls man who owns Beanpole Signs on the N61W23000 block of Silver Spring Drive called police after he noticed something odd at his store. Apparently, sometime in the last three weeks, someone broke into the printing store and stole $3,500 worth of printer equipment. …

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Police Reports: Tween Thieves and Plowing Down Bikers

From a man who obviously won't share the road with bikers to a teenage bling-ring, this is a list of the most interesting police reports from last week.