Charges have been filed against two people for attempting to damage and destroy two buildings with fire during an August protest in Downtown Madison, U.S. Attorney Scott Blader said Wednesday.
Anessa Fierro, 27, and Willie Johnson, 45, both of Madison, were each charged in two-count complaints. The complaints allege Fierro and Johnson broke glass windows and doors in two commercial buildings, poured liquid from a gasoline container into the buildings and attempted to light them on fire during the Aug. 25 protest.
Fierro
Johnson
According to the complaints, the two successfully started a fire at one of the buildings and were trying to start a fire at the other — which at the time had some occupied residential apartments — when Madison police officers arrived.
Fierro and Johnson were identified through video surveillance and arrested Wednesday. Their initial court appearances had not yet been scheduled.
<&rdpStrong>Fatal crashes, gun violence top recent notable crimes in Madison area</&rdpStrong>
5 occupants of SUV get out and rob 2 pedestrians at gunpoint on West Side, Madison police say
Five occupants of an SUV got out and robbed two pedestrians at gunpoint on the West Side early Monday morning, Madison police reported.
Officers were called to the 6700 block of Odana Road about 1:45 a.m. on a report an armed robbery that happened when two people who were on foot were approached by a smaller black SUV, Lt. Kipp Hartman said in a report.
Protesters shut down Beltline near Monona Drive for a time Saturday night, police say
The Beltline has reopened after protesters shut down a portion the highway near Monona Drive on Saturday evening, police said.
Traffic had been rerouted for about 40 minutes, and the Beltline reopened by 8:20 p.m., authorities said.
Woman charged with child neglect in infant daughter's drug overdose death in Spring Green
A 21-year-old woman has been charged with felony child neglect that resulted in an infant’s death in February 2019 in Spring Green.
Mariah L. Gay, of San Antonio, Texas, faces a maximum prison sentence of 25 years and fines of up to $100,000 for the overdose death of her 13-month-old daughter.
According to the criminal complaint, authorities responded to a Spring Green residence where Gay was living at the time with her infant daughter. Responders found a man at about 4:45 a.m. trying to comfort the infant, who was having trouble breathing. The man told authorities that the child had experienced about 30 seizures in five minutes and had fixed, dilated pupils.
Madison police confirm 1 dead after West Side crash Thursday
One person has died as a result of a crash Thursday on Madison’s West Side, police said.
The family of the person who died was notified Saturday, Madison police Lt. David Jugovich said Sunday.
No further details were available, but Jugovich said more information would be released during the week. An investigation is ongoing.
4 people injured, flown to trauma centers after shooting in Mayville, authorities say
Four injured people were flown to trauma centers after a shooting Wednesday night in Mayville, the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office reported.
The call for the shooting at the Spring Glen Apartments, 1118 Horicon St., came in to the Sheriff’s Office just before 7:25 p.m., Sheriff Dale Schmidt said. The four injured people were found at the scene, and lifesaving measures were performed before they were flown to trauma centers.
Authorities identify man found dead in Reindahl Park in Madison on Sunday
Authorities have identified a man whose body was found on a bike path in Reindahl Park in Madison on Sunday.
The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a statement that Tyrone A. Flood, 54, of Madison, was the man found dead in the park in the 1800 block of Portage Road around 7:20 a.m. Sunday.
Motorcyclist dies at hospital after crash on West Side, Madison police say
A motorcyclist died at a hospital after crashing on the West Side on Tuesday night, Madison police reported.
Witnesses told police the motorcyclist was driving above the speed limit before losing control and crashing in the 100 block of South Whitney Way at about 8:15 p.m., Lt. Kipp Hartman said in a statement.
Man shot 3 fellow residents of Mayville apartment, then apparently shot himself
A man who lives in a senior apartment complex in a small Wisconsin town opened fire on three fellow residents before apparently shooting himself, authorities said Thursday.
All four were flown to trauma centers following the shooting Wednesday evening outside Spring Glen Apartments in Mayville in Dodge County. They all are expected to survive, the Wisconsin Department of Justice said. That agency is assisting Mayville police with an investigation.
Authorities identify motorcyclist killed in West Side crash on Tuesday night
Authorities have identified a motorcyclist killed in a crash on the West Side on Tuesday night.
The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a statement that Damarico L. Leggett, 27 of Sun Prairie, died in the crash about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday on South Whitney Way near Marathon Drive.
Police: man set fire to homeless peoples' tent; fire damaged park shelter
Madison police arrested a 49-year-old man Friday after he allegedly set fire to three peoples’ tent and damaged a shelter in a Downtown park.
According to police, two 36-year-old women and a 31-year-old man experiencing homelessness set up a tent they had just received Friday morning next to the James Madison Park shelter on East Gorham Street.
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Shanzeh Ahmad | Wisconsin State Journal
Shanzeh Ahmad is a general assignment reporter for the Wisconsin State Journal. She joined the paper in 2019 after getting a master's degree in journalism and public affairs from American University in Washington, D.C.
