Wisconsin Examiner maintains editorial independence. 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. Bell had hired Michael Haag, a nationally recognized ballistics expert with the Albuquerque Police Department, to review evidence collected from the homes garage trim, which suggested that it sustained an impact from the bullet from the shooting. 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. That wrongful death lawsuit was later settled out of court, and the Bells were awarded $1.75 million. ", An unarmed Michael Bell Jr. was shot and killed by Kenosha police officers in front of his parents' home in 2004. Because his sons car had been parked against the garage the new evidence in the trim had not been readily visible until after it was moved as his ex-wife had sold the home. In 2019, Bell found a dent in siding flashing on the garage. He was born on September 16th, 1984, in Waukegan, IL, to Paul and Connie (Hayes) Roark. Julia was born on February 14, 1943, in Salt Lake City, UT, [], Roger Dale Grisham, age 71, drew his last breath on earth with his children by his side and was reunited with the love of his life on April 09, 2023. 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. Sylvia was born on March 15, 1958 in Texas, [], Marilyn Anter Cardello, 83 of Pleasant Prairie, WI, passed away on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at Aurora Medical Center in Kenosha, WI. A lawsuit from Michael M. Bell seeking to gain access to the bullet that killed his son outside his Kenosha home in 2004 has been dismissed. But the investigator questions the pace at which Morrissey completed the curriculum for his degree 40 courses, each 72 hours, in 16 months. In 1980, six U.S. diplomats who had avoided being taken hostage at their embassy in Tehran flew out of Iran with the help of Canadian diplomats. The platform features a wide range of content including news, features, profiles and reviews, showcasing Kenoshas outstanding people, places and events. Michael Bell Sr. addresses city officials in April 2022 Michael M. Bells son was killed in the driveway of his mothers home the elder Bells ex-wife. 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. I am fully confident that the officer's actions complied with the Kenosha Police Department's use of force guidelines.". His Son Was Shot by Cops 17 Years Ago. Now He's Suing to Get the Bullet. Graveley has maintained the allegations are without merit. He said he hoped to bring a leadership style to the sheriff's office that would support rank-and-file officers, especially those who worked during days of civil unrest last year after a Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake in the back seven times. These forensic facts remain a constant no matter how anyone says the shooting of Bell occurred. This article contains information from past Kenosha News reports. IN PHOTOS: Michael Bell shooting through the years Later in May, Bell took out national newspaper ads again, this time accusing the police department of having concealed the presence of the fifth officer as a witness, and asserting that the same officer also collected evidence at the scene despite having been a witness. Antaramian was not at Monday nights meeting. A struggle ensued, and while his mom and sister watched from the house, Bell was shot, point-blank, in the head. She was the last child born to [], Keith Robert Drysdale, age 73, passed away at his residence on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 surrounded by his family. Born on March 26, 1956, he was the son of [], William C. Bill or Billy Lui of Kenosha, WI passed away peacefully on April 14, 2023, at the age of 74. Timothy Bell Obituary (2017) - Racine, WI - Kenosha News - Legacy.com Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. "But apparently, they either didn't hear that or disregarded it," Barton says. The Wisconsin Examiner has several times sought an interview with Antaramian about Bells claims and accusations. According to the police departments official account, Kenosha Police officer Erich Strausbaugh pulled the younger Bell over into the driveway of his home after pursuing him. 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. After police in Kenosha, Wis., shot my 21-year-old son to death outside his house ten years ago . in September 2021 demanding the bullet. Mar 22, 2022. Gonzalesthen shot Bell Jr. in the head. Michael Montemurro Obituary (2015) - Kenosha, WI - Kenosha News Michael Bell continues attacks on mayor, city administrator regarding The two walked off-camera, where police tried to arrest him. He was the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. So far, Bells campaign has generated full-page newspaper ads and TV spots, but otherwise nothing but roadblocks. Josephine Josie Perez, went home to Jesus on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at her residence, Woods of Caledonia Assisted Living; she was 76. Photo courtesy of the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department. The younger Bell was killed by police following a traffic stop on Nov. 9, 2004. Graveley said Wednesday he was not worried about the review into his conduct. Bell got out of the car he was driving and a scuffle ensued, with Bell at one point breaking away and running toward the house after the officer used a taser on him. Pictures from the scene showed blood on the hood of the car, and Michael M. Bells. You can cancel at any time. The loving couple was surrounded by many family members. Ryan Franklin Bell Obituary (1975 - 2023) | Salem, Wisconsin - Echovita 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. A third officer, Lt. David Krueger, arrived and also used a taser on Bell, then grabbed him from behind in a bear hug. "And another officer thought that Mike Bell was trying to disarm his partner," Barton says. 2023. Parkside, 75, passed unexpectedly on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. 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. 13 years later: Documentary gives father of man shot by Kenosha police The family used the settlement money to fund a grassroots campaign. Gonzales was one of four Kenosha officers involved in the 2004 killing of Michael Bell Jr., who he shotin the head. The ad reiterated his June 1 deadline for the bullets release in return for his offer to waive the citys financial liability. And then she told me it was by a police officer," Bell says. The investigation showed that the actions of the officers were reasonable, appropriate and well within Kenosha Police Department policy, procedure, and training. (Photo via Bells Plea For a Change Facebook page.). The actions of the officers involved in the incident were deemed justified after an internal investigation. Bell files civil lawsuit against police officer - Kenosha News Officer in shooting commits suicide 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. Legislative police reform package calls for creation of - Kenosha News This past April, Wisconsin Gov. Dash cam footage from inside the squad car shows Bell exiting the vehicle he was driving, where he was confronted by the officer. An unarmed Michael Bell Jr. was shot and killed by Kenosha police officers in front of his parents' home in 2004. With this voluminous new submission, I presume the director would want his professional staff to do due diligence,"Graveley said in an emailed statement. Theres been a number of decisions that have been handed down from the Kenosha Circuit Court that have been reversed on appeal, Bell said. The family later received a $1.75 million wrongful death settlement. "But as far as I can tell, it was a miscommunication and a misunderstanding that lead to [Bell's] death.". Bells most recent sally is his public accusation that the Kenosha city administrator, John Morrissey, when he was a Kenosha police officer, provided false information when he submitted a transcript for a college degree that he had received. Bell believes the dent was made by a bullet, and a ballistics expert he hired reported that the dent had traces of lead. Edward Mitchell, Walter Fincke Jr., Kenneth Fincke (Teresa) and Ginny Brandt Fairbank; and her former husband Michael M. Bell (Susan). The suit also named Kenoshas city-county Joint Services, which currently has custody of the bullet. Suit seeking access to bullet in 2004 Michael E. Bell shooting by Kenosha police dismissed. 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. He was the son of the late Oswald and Marie (Betthauser) Arzt. Bell vowed to continue running newspaper ads about the incident and nationwide commercials demanding answers. Bell's father, Michael Sr., says he'll never forget the phone call he received on the night of Nov. 9, 2004, from his oldest daughter. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "After we created enough ruckus, the unions ended up sitting down with us and talking with us," Bell says. Bell was unlawfully stopped by the police. In 2011, chaos engulfed Egypt as protesters seized the streets of Cairo, battling police, burning down the ruling partys headquarters and defying a military curfew. His career took off hosting a talk show that featured brawls, thrown chairs and lots of words that had to be bleeped. Bell filed a lawsuit in September 2021 demanding the bullet. And the decade-old death has led to real reform in the state. Morrissey had Kaplan, now part of Purdue University, send Ezell an official transcript. The links at left demonstrate that the Kenosha Police Department unnecessarily and wrongfully killed Michael Bell. City Attorney Ed Antaramian on Friday said he could not comment at length on the matter. City officials expect tens of thousands of people from across the area to take part in Independence Day festivities the week of July 4. The actions of the officers involved were deemed justified after an internal investigation. 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. What I Did After Police Killed My Son - POLITICO Magazine Another tick-borne disease is on the rise in the U.S. Bell's family won a $1.75 million wrongful death settlement from the city, and Bell's father, also named Michael M. Bell, has been pursuing legal action in the death ever since while also pushing for changes in the way police shootings are investigated. Bell offers city indemnification for release of bullet - Kenosha News Jan 28, 2022. Bell filed suit late last summer in Kenosha County Circuit Court against the city after his requests to obtain the bullet were denied by city officials and Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley. If there had been a thorough and independent investigation of the shooting, he says, and if it had verified his scenario or something like it, the resulting report would have come back and said it was an error, Bell said. In 2020, the United States and several other nations prepared to airlift citizens out of the Chinese city at the center of a virus outbreak that had killed more than 100 people. Elliot Hughes. 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. She graduated from Gwinn High School in Gwinn, MI and attended Gateway College in Kenosha. Dawn was born on April 12, 1982, in Waukegan, IL, the daughter of Daniel Ratzke and Kathy [], Donald G. Urban, Sr., 72 years old, of Pleasant Prairie, WI passed away peacefully on Monday, April 17, 2023, at Aurora Medical Center in Kenosha, WI. The investigator, Allen Ezell, a former FBI agent, spent months and produced a 258-page report. Police had no lawful reason to stop Michael Bell's vehicle, and in so doing, violated not only the law but also their own Policies and Procedures. Born on June 8, 1934, in [], Julia Angelos, 80, of Pleasant Prairie passed away on April 5, 2023, at Froedtert South Pleasant Prairie Hospital. City officials showed no interest in the proposed deal. Dashcam footage shows the two men talked and then struggled. 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. The location of entrance and exit wounds on Michaels body contradicts the police statements. "And I do recognize that a number of police officers risk their life to protect people. In late July, Beckman filed a brief opposing the dismissal motion. 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. Kenosha News Recent Obituaries: All of Kenosha News's Recent Obituaries Were going toIm going to ask the mayor to either release the bullet or step down as mayor of Kenosha, he said. Beckman and Bell believe that Strausbaughs holster might have been snagged on the cars side view mirror. Beckman then filed a 107-page response with additional information in July, and the office agreed to review the matter again. Five years ago: Serena Williams won her record 23rd Grand Slam singles title, defeating her sister Venus 6-4, 6-4 at the Australian Open. Competitive balance is coming to WIAA high school sports. Michael M. Bell demanded a vote of no confidence in Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian and City Administrator John Morrissey before the City Council on Monday night. Kim Marie Bell Obituary (1958 - 2023) | Kenosha, Wisconsin Send Sympathy Card. The daughter of the late Joseph and Sylvia (Sydlowski) Laurin. In a letter to Bell, the prosecutor asserted the lack of DNA on the gun proved nothing, and that in brief contact with a firearm or holster, you would almost never see a positive test result for the presence of that persons DNA. He also stated that DNA analysts at the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) State Crime Lab had told him that there would be no expectation of DNA results under the facts and circumstances described in your sons death.. 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. He was born in Kenosha on Sept. 11, 1928, to the late Michael. Uber offering horse drawn carriage rides in honor of royal coronation. She had [], Hildegarde (Naunheim) Briese, age 94, passed away on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at Aurora Medical Center Kenosha. Bell was back in front of the city council in July with another citizen comment this time directed at the city administrator, John Morrissey. The city denied his request, citing reports from the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department and the state Division of Criminal Investigation in DOJ that they found no indication of the dent in reports or photos taken at the time of the shooting in 2004. Michael . Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth, who was first elected in 2002, has said he does not plan to run for reelection, according to the Kenosha News. Kenosha.com has partnered with local funeral homes to provide up to date and comprehensive obituary listings at no cost to families. A lawsuit from Michael M. Bell seeking to gain access to the bullet that killed his son outside his Kenosha home in 2004 has been dismissed. The elder Bell says that the scenario placing Gonzalez on the right side is supported by the autopsy evidence, the blood pattern on the car hood and the eyewitness testimony. 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. 2023 www.jsonline.com. Michael Bell on one of the many billboards his father bought to draw attention to internal police investigations after his son was fatally shot by Kenosha police in 2004. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Recent Obituaries; Find an Obituary; Archives; Opinion. KENOSHA - Michael A. Conhartowski, 49, of Kenosha WI, passed away peacefully on Monday March 8, 2021, surrounded by his close family, giving him support and love as he concluded his journey. The officer shot Bell pointblank in the head in front of his motherand sister. You have permission to edit this article. The family later received a $1.75 million wrongful death settlement. A Kenosha police officer who was involved in the controversial and highly publicized fatal shooting in 2004 of 21-year-old Michael E. Bell committed suicide early Sunday, according to Chief John . We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Born on March 12, 1961, in Escanaba, [], Suzanne Sonja Simonovich, 67 years old of Pleasant Prairie, WI passed away Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Aurora St. Lukes Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI. It was dismissed by Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Chad Kerkman on Thursday. View all Kenosha County obituaries. So far, however, the administration of Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian has ignored Bells claim and not responded to inquiries about it from the Wisconsin Examiner. Here's what it means. Daniel Gaitan. Along with a retired Kenosha police detective named Russell Beckman, Bell Sr. has continued searching for an avenue to hold Gonzalesaccountable. He finished a distant third in the contest Tuesday night.). Another tick-borne disease is on the rise in the U.S. If Gonzalez was standing between Strausbaugh and Bells son, then he should have realized that the younger Bell could not have grabbed Strausbaughs weapon, they contend and so there was no need for Gonzalez to shoot. That wrongful death lawsuit was later settled out of court and they were awarded $1.75 million. Please subscribe to keep reading. Graveley denied the request. He vowed to take the case to the Court of Appeals and to continue investigating his sons death. Bell got out of the car he was driving and a scuffle ensued, with Bell at one point breaking away and running toward the house after the officer used a taser on him. 0:08. [], Lois Annette Travor, age 79, passed away at her residence on Sunday, April 2, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. He was born on April 21, 1948, [], Denise J. Matson-Vasquez, age 62, passed away at Aurora at Home Zilber Hospice surrounded by her loving family on Friday, April 14, 2023. A video on the website shows Gonzalesdiscussing the shooting. In March 2020, Gonzales self-published a 102-page book about the Bell shooting titled "A Fateful Two Minutes." The Office of Lawyer Regulation initially dismissed the grievance filed against Graveley in May, saying there was "insufficient basis to proceed." He entered into eternal life where he was greeted by his [], Leonard Floyd Willems, age 100, passed away on Friday, April 28, 2023 at Hospice House surrounded by his loving family. "I finally made a decision that we're never going to get to the truth of the matter, unless we bring in our own personal investigators," he says. She was born in Palatine, IL on December 30, 1943. [], Frank Michael Hujik, age 95, a lifelong resident of Kenosha, passed away on April 22nd, 2023. In 1916, Louis D. Brandeis was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson to the Supreme Court; Brandeis became the courts first Jewish member. Born in Marano Principato Province of Cosenza, Italy on September 24, 1948, he [], David L. Webster, age 67, of Twin Lakes, WI, died on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, WI. 0. Vera was born in Kendall, WI [], Donald P. Kleczka, age 88, passed away on Saturday, April 22, 2023 surrounded by his loving family. Five police units were even present when Gov. Graveley sent a letter to Bell Sr. in September 2017 declining. Nicholas Nick Ryan Torcaso, age 34, found peace on April 29, 2023, after a 3-year struggle with drug addiction. He was born on January 8th, 1928, to the late Frank and Mary (Jankula) [], Kenosha native John Paul (J.P.) Schwarz passed away at his Somers residence on Saturday, April 22, 2023. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Bell Sr. said Gonzales' decision to run for sheriff doesn't seem rational. In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, killing all seven crew members, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. In the heat of the moment, they reason, the tugging sensation of his holster on the mirror could have caused Strausbaugh to mistakenly believe that his gun was being seized, leading him to panic. Son of the late Art Kambs and Betty Shumard Kambs, [], Stanley E. McCormick, age 94, passed away Friday, April 21 at his daughters home with his wife Genevieve at his side. 0:29. 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. [], Micheal Kenneth McCambridge, 61, of Kenosha, was called home to his Lord on Friday, April 7, 2023, at his home after valiantly fighting cancer for over six years. "The public needs to know whether the facts involved will be an issue or a bias will be there because of that working relationship.". Anatomy of a Police Cover-Up," which explores continuing questions about the 2004 fatal shooting of Michael E. Bell, 21, by Kenosha . I essentially am going to continue to run billboards and run print ads and I actually asked my video producer to go ahead and produce some TV spots. Forensic evidence contradicts police claims of events. She was born on June [], Robert Alan Marshall, age 67, passed away at his residence on Thursday, April 13, 2023 surrounded by his loving family. 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. Barton says that Wisconsin has had many officer-involved shootings and custody deaths. Bell charges that the official account of how his son died has distorted key details to justify the shooting and avoid accountability for the police department, the officers involved and the city. Born in Chilton County, AL on March 5, 1931, she was the daughter [], Benny Ruffolo, age 74, passed away on Monday, April 17, 2023 at Aurora St. Lukes Medical Center. And in the years since the settlement, he has continued to challenge the original account of his sons death, enlisting private investigators to dig into the details and publicly airing his criticisms of the investigation, the police department and the Kenosha city government. ", Bell Jr. was pulled over by Kenosha police in November 2004. Bell and Beckman had obtained the contents of Morrisseys personnel file with the city from an open records request, but details in a copy of his college transcript that was part of the file raised questions, Bell says. Born on June 21, 1943, she was the daughter of [], John Brady, 54, of Kenosha passed away on Thursday April 6, 2023 at Froedtert South-St. Catherines. Susan was born on November 11, 1951, and [], Gloria J. Laurin age 79 of Twin Lakes, WI. Michael M. Bell's son was killed in the driveway of his mother's home the elder Bell's ex-wife. 43 Cloudy alert Bell files civil lawsuit against police officer Dan Truttschel Oct 26, 2020 A civil lawsuit filed in Kenosha County Circuit Court accuses the Kenosha Police officer who shot. A subsequent toxicology report showed that Bell had been drinking that night. Kenosha Police officer who shot Michael E. Bell plans to run for Bell filed suit late last summer in Kenosha County Circuit Court against the city after his requests to obtain the bullet were denied by city officials and Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley. I could not get anybody in the state of Wisconsin to listen, Bell said in a recent interview. Competitive balance is coming to WIAA high school sports. That account also has placed Strausbaugh, the officer who had shouted that his gun had been seized, standing at Bells immediate right. On Monday, Bell doubled down and demanded the bullet be available for further analysis. DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy, According to the police departments official account. Michael Conhartowski Obituary (1971 - 2021) - Kenosha, WI - Kenosha News Still, Ezells report concludes that Morrissey did appear on paper to be a graduate of the program. Both DOJ and OLR have asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit. Michael Bell is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force. In a grievance filed by Beckman to the Office of Lawyer Regulation, he alleges Graveley misrepresented evidence in the case. Six years later, they received a $1.75 million settlement. Skeptical of the speed with which the police department investigated and cleared its own officers, Bell began campaigning for a new state law requiring investigations of deaths at the hands of police to be conducted by outside agencies a law that was enacted in 2014.