CRIME & SAFETY

At approximately 2:15 AM on December 8th, 2023, a vigilant Janesville officer came across a vehicle that had come to a halt in traffic at the intersection of Lodge Drive and Woodlane Drive for an extended duration of time.

This week in Rock County, Wisconsin, several incidents occurred that require attention. These incidents include a drug arrest in Beloit, the appointment of a new police chief in Janesville, a garage fire in Beloit, and a lawyer withdrawing from a murder case in Beloit.

Two incidents occurred in Whitewater, Wisconsin this week. The first incident involved a home in the Town of Lima being completely destroyed by a fire that originated from a pellet stove. The second incident was a fire in a business park that was contained with minimal damage.

A fatal fire broke out in a Janesville apartment building early Friday morning, leaving one person dead and another hospitalized. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames and residents have since returned home. The cause of the fire is under investigation by local and state authorities.

A fire that started in a Whitewater industrial park building’s rooftop HVAC unit prompted crews from multiple agencies to respond Thursday night.

Stoughton police arrested a 31-year-old man on Saturday, Dec. 2 for second offense Operating While Intoxicated who was found to have an alcohol concentration of more than .30. According to an email sent by Lt. Chad O’Neil to the Hub, an officer arrested the man around 12:30 p.m. He said he "had two" when asked how much alcohol he had consumed before being stopped by the officer. The driver was arrested and found to have an alcohol concentration over .30.

The Janesville Police Department has issued driving tips for the upcoming winter. Drivers are urged to be mindful of road conditions, reduce speed, and remember that speed limits apply to dry roads. Clearing windows and lights of snow and ice, maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles, and looking ahead in traffic are also advised due to the increased stopping times in bad weather.

MILTON — The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is welcoming a new class of deputies, including Zachary Raby from Milton. Nine deputies will be sworn in by Sheriff Kalvin Barrett on Friday, Dec. 8, at 10 a.m. in the Dane County Courthouse, Jury Assembly Room. They are: Joshua Autry, 33, of JanesvilleDavid Cline, 29, of BellevilleD’sean...

The Janesville Fire Department (JFD) is encouraging residents to focus on fire safety this holiday season. They note that winter, with its increased use of heating appliances, holiday decorations, and candles, often brings a higher risk of fires. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offers fire facts and safety tips for community safety.

JEFFERSON, Wis. (WFRV) – Multiple people were taken into custody after authorities found drugs and cash inside a residence during a search warrant. According to the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office, on November 30 around 2 p.m., a search warrant was authorized for a residence as a part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation. The residence was reportedly on McKibbin Lane in the town of Jefferson.

This week in Janesville, Wisconsin, there were three incidents that occurred. A 54-year-old man was arrested and charged with Operating While Intoxicated 6th Offense after being caught driving in the wrong lane. A woman was given 2 years of probation after passing out on drugs in a minivan with children inside. Lastly, the acting police chief of Janesville was named the finalist to permanently lead the agency.

A half dozen police cruisers are surrounding a home atop Janesville’s Courthouse Hill as of mid-evening Tuesday. A Big Radio News reporter watched police going in and out of the front door of a two story brick house and pacing around the property at 521 East Court Street shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday night.

(WFRV) – Authorities say a driver was recently pulled over in Jefferson County after being observed going 30 miles per hour over the speed limit on a highway in Wisconsin. According to a Facebook post from the Wisconsin State Patrol, the driver was caught on radar going 100 miles per hour in a 70 mile per hour zone.

MADISON, Wis. -- A man accused of robbing a downtown Madison bank earlier this year was sentenced to eight years in federal prison Wednesday, U.S. Department of Justice officials said. Richard Chapman, 66, of Janesville, was indicted after prosecutors alleged he robbed the Park Bank on Feb. 3. He allegedly...

ELKHORN, Wis. - A Whitewater man pleaded not guilty on Monday, Nov. 27 to charges in connection with a fatal 2020 Delavan hit-and-run crash. Prosecutors say 35-year-old Travis Brown struck and killed Noe Rendon Jr. and later told officials he "hit a deer" hundreds of miles from the scene. Delavan...

According to the police department Facebook page, on December 4 “….the Whitewater Police and Fire Commission approved the promotion of Jake Hintz to Detective Lieutenant. In that role, Det. Lt. Hintz will oversee our Detective Bureau, supervising our two detectives and our School Resource Officer. Jake has served the Whitewater community as a sworn officer since 2012 in a variety of positions including Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Detective, Patrol Lieutenant and now as our Detective Lieutenant. Congratulations, Jake!”

The Janesville Fire Department (JFD) and Janesville Police Department (JPD) will host a Child Safety Seat Inspection event on December 14 at Fire Station #1. The event aims to assist parents in ensuring their children's safety by offering certified technicians to check and fix incorrectly installed child safety seats.

Breaking news: River Bluff Middle School in Stoughton evacuated due to a bomb threat. Law enforcement, including local and county police, have given the all-clear after finding no suspicious items. The public is assured of no current threat as investigations continue.

We, Chief of Police Dan Meyer and City Manager John Weidl, are jointly writing to express our deep gratitude to the elected officials of the Whitewater Common Council and the larger Whitewater community for the recent decision to invest an additional $120,000 in the Whitewater Police Department for the year 2024. This specific investment is earmarked to fully fund our staffing study strategy and make immediate technological improvements that seek to alleviate pressure on our existing workforce until we can thoroughly assess the staffing needs of the entire police department next year.