Politics & Government

Village Denies iPad Claim from Man Involved in Family Trouble Call

A young man who could have faced a disorderly conduct charge but instead got a ride from Sturtevant police claims the department is responsible for the loss of his iPad.

Sturtevant trustees Tuesday voted to deny the claim of a young man who believes the police department is responsible for the loss of his iPad. 

Village Police Chief Sean Marschke recommended the denial.

"It is my belief that (the young man) is responsible for his own property," he said. "If our officers hadn't been called, he wouldn't have needed a ride and should have secured his belongings."

Sturtevant police were called at 11:03 p.m. July 4 to a residence in the 1500 block of 92nd Street for a report of family trouble. When officers arrived, they met a young man who was angry and pacing back and forth with both his iPhone and iPad in his hand, according to police reports.

Officers say they the man shouted about his mother and that "she was doing it again," but put his iPad down and showed police his identification when they asked.

The mother came outside and explained to police that her son was angry because she wouldn't take him to the beach, police reports read. During the argument, the young man broke open a large bag of chips. By this time, assistance from Mount Pleasant police had arrived, and after speaking to the mother, the officer noticed the iPad still on the ground so they placed it on the hood of the MPPD squad.

Police say they told the young man he was not welcome at home for the rest of the night and would need to find a place to stay. The man said he would just camp out on his mother's lawn, but officers told him that wasn't possible. However, police did tell the man he could spend time at the Racine County Jail on a disorderly conduct charge if he kept refusing to follow instructions.

After unsuccessfully trying to bunk with another family member, the young man secured space at a friend's house. Officers say they transported the man to his friend's and advised him to be sure he had all his belongings before exiting the squad car. 

The next day, July 5, dispatch received a call that the young man's iPad was missing, according to police reports. Officers attempted to locate it by searching the area around where they first made contact with the young man and along the route the Mount Pleasant officer would take back to police headquarters, but the iPad was not located.

A claim for the missing iPad and its cover - a total value of about $365 - was reviewed by the Administration, Personnel, Policy and Legal Committee and refused.


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