A Racine police officer shot and killed a man on May 4 The police officer shot the man about 11:12 p.m after authorities say he raised a handgun during an attempted arrest The man was wanted in connection to a domestic abuse assault according to a Racine Police Department news release Officers attempted to arrest him on the 900 block of 17th Street The man crashed the vehicle about a half block away and was later shot by the officer after officers and first responders attempted to give aid The officers involved were wearing body cameras during the shooting The Wisconsin Department of Justice is leading the investigation and will give its findings to the Racine County District Attorney's office for any possible charges The department said in an email the body camera footage is typically not released until the district attorney has made its charging decision The officer who fired the gun has been placed on administrative leave David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel President Donald Trump is opening a new salvo in his tariff war In a post Sunday night on his Truth Social platform Trump said he has authorized the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S Trade Representative to slap a 100% tariff “on any an… RACINE — A Racine police officer shot and killed a man during an arrest attempt Sunday According to a Racine Police Department press release the man was wanted in connection to a “violent domestic abuse assault” from earlier in the day Officers reportedly attempted to arrest him in the 900 block of 17th Street at approximately 11:12 p.m The release said the man tried to flee in a vehicle but crashed about half a block away He then reportedly exited the vehicle holding a handgun Police said the man started to raise the gun and an RPD officer fired his gun Officers and rescue responders reportedly performed life-saving measures on the man The involved officers have been placed on administrative leave The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident the Wisconsin DOJ said the investigation is “ongoing.” “DCI is continuing to review evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over the investigative reports to the Racine County District Attorney’s office when the investigation concludes,” the Wisconsin DOJ said in a release Anyone with additional information related to the event is asked to call RPD at 262-635-7756 or Crime Stoppers at 262-636-9330 to remain anonymous This story will be updated as more information becomes available Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email Email notifications are only sent once a day In a post Sunday night on his Truth Soc… Read through the obituaries published today in The Journal Times Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account — A Racine legend known for her dedication to getting kids excited about reading was honored Friday for her 25 years of community service Members of the Racine Men’s Church Club gathered Friday afternoon to recognize Julia Witherspoon the founder of the Cops ‘n Kids Reading Center I never expected any of this,” Witherspoon said of the fanfare Yet if you were to look at the 74-year-old’s long list of accolades and accomplishments — things like being an Olympic torchbearer or being recognized by the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Leroy Butler — you’d think she’d be used to it by now But for Witherspoon’s the club’s steadfast support over the year stands out The 74-year-old moved to tears at their congratulations “To be here with them at the end of my career with Cops ‘n Kids they’ve supported me they believed in me.” The retired police officer founded Cops ‘n Kids in 1997 after responding to a call and noticing that the books in the home were out of the reach of the children The moment reminded her of her own childhood WATCH: Racine Cops ‘n Kids founder retires after 25 years of service “It wasn’t that they didn’t want us to read,” Witherspoon said “They didn’t want us to damage the books — tear the pages write in them — because they couldn’t afford to replace them.” “I really cried because I knew that’s why kids were dropping out of school that’s why they were getting in trouble because they didn’t understand the work.” she found herself at a warehouse responding to a burglary call Inside were 10,000 slightly damaged children’s books set to be shredded She asked the warehouse’s owner to donate a few with plans to give them away to kids in her community with the help of community partners she found a truck and then a storefront “In one day — one four-hour segment — those books were gone The initiative also grew well beyond Racine gaining support from police departments and city leaders nationwide Witherspoon said she is grateful to have served her city and hopes the children she helped will pass on their love of reading “I wish I could do it forever and ever,” she said Witherspoon has been the subject of numerous features Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip Report a typo — A man is dead after a Racine police officer shot him during an encounter where he allegedly pointed a gun at officers according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation DOJ officials said the Racine Police Department located and attempted to arrest a wanted man near 17th and Franklin Watch: Racine police shoot and kill armed man near 17th and Franklin The man crashed his car as officers attempted to apprehend him he then exited his vehicle with a handgun and began to raise it leading to a Racine police officer shooting him Law enforcement officials were wearing body cameras during the incident and the involved officer has been placed on administrative leave in accordance with agency policy The DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is leading the investigation and will submit investigative reports to the Racine County District Attorney’s office upon its conclusion "I was literally cleaning up the living room and all of a sudden there was loud crash and then five or six gunshots," neighbor Patricia Raney told TMJ4 Raney said that she immediately checked on her young children after hearing the crash and shooting "Immediately they were so many lights and sirens I was afraid to look until I knew for sure there was no more shots," Raney recalled Neighbors told TMJ4 that they were surprised about what happened since the block is generally quiet RACINE — A man wanted in connection to a domestic abuse investigation is shot dead by police after a brief chase overnight in Racine police located and attempted to arrest the man with ties to Racine in the 900blk of 17th Street The man was wanted in connection to a violent domestic abuse assault which had occurred earlier in the day the suspect attempted to flee in a vehicle but crashed roughly half a block away Police say the suspect then exited his vehicle with a handgun in his hand The suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene It’s not known how many shots were fired by the officer The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation is now handling the investigation The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave MILWAUKEE --  Nehring's Sendik's grocery store on Downer Ave has temporarily closed after the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) found mouse and rat.. is voluntarily recalling its "on the vine" tomatoes over concerns of potential salmonella contamination... MILWAUKEE -- On the Monday before Mother's Day the Daisie Foundation is bringing its signature "Random acts of Kindness" event.. The Racine Zoo has announced the birth of the newest member to their zoo family… a Hartmann’s Mountain zebra this is the second Hartmann’s Mountain zebra to be born at the Racine Zoo The birth of this zebra was a recommendation from the Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra Species Survival Plan and is an essential addition to the Hartmann’s Mountain zebra population welcomed their new baby boy after a year-long The Racine Zoo ensured a safe birth by keeping a close eye on Promise every day and night for weeks The Racine Zoo says mother and baby will be off exhibit to bond until the weather is consistently warmer. Check out the zoo’s Facebook page for updates on mom and baby Racine Zoo will be launching a name-the-baby contest soon The zoo also says there will be exclusive zebra apparel available soon All funds raised by the contest and apparel will support the care of the new baby zebra Check out Racine Zoo’s website for more information on the contest and apparel Students from Madison's East and West High Schools walked out on Thursday for a "A Day Without Immigrants and Workers" rally in response to recent deportations and new policies impacting immigrants put in place by the Trump administration on Thursday LOS ANGELES — A 23-year-old Racine man has been sentenced to 44 months in federal prison in connection to a nationwide spree in which hackers gained access to Ring door cameras placed false calls to emergency services and live-streamed police response on social media who has been in federal custody since August 2024 pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and two counts of unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information He previously served a prison sentence in Kentucky after being convicted in an unrelated state case Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California Nelson and other conspirators were accused of acquiring login information for Yahoo email accounts throughout the United States they allegedly determined whether account owners used the same login information for Ring doorbell camera devices allowing them to learn more about the account owners false emergency reports or calls were made to local law enforcement to provoke a police response to an account owner’s home The police response was live-streamed through the cameras on social media and the accused “taunted responding police officers and victims through the Ring devices during several of the incidents,” according to the release “(Nelson) and his co-conspirators went on a digital crime spree terrorizing innocent people around the country from behind their keyboards,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum “While (Nelson) was safe behind his keyboard Students from Madison's East and West High Schools walked out on Thursday for a "A Day Without Immigrants and Workers" rally in response to re… Browse through the latest Racine County employment postings and find your next career LOS ANGELES — A 23-year-old man from Racine will spend more than three years in federal prison for his involvement in a nationwide “swatting” spree that occurred over one week from November 7-13 Kya Christian Nelson, of Racine, and his co-conspirator, James Thomas Andrew McCarty, 22, of Arizona, hacked into Ring doorbell cameras after obtaining logins from unsuspecting victims' Yahoo email accounts and matching those details with Ring account holders, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Nelson then baited law enforcement into responding to the homes of victims so he could livestream the confrontations from the Ring devices on social media even taunting responding officers through the cameras The swatting calls included a hoax call to police in West Covina in which the caller claimed to be a minor child reporting that his parents were shooting guns inside the home prompting police to respond to the residence with their guns drawn Another incident mirrored the West Covina swatting call in which Nelson made hoax calls to the Oxnard Police Department on November 11 claiming to be a child whose father had a handgun and later reporting shots fired Nelson taunted responding officers through the Ring camera to 44 months in federal prison for participating in the one-week nationwide “swatting spree.” He had pleaded guilty on January 23 to one count of conspiracy and two counts of unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information Watch: Racine man sentenced to over 3 years in prison for ‘swatting’ spree “[Nelson] and his co-conspirators went on a digital crime spree “While [Nelson] was safe behind his keyboard McCarty was sentenced in June 2024 to seven years in federal prison for his role in the swatting calls and for additional charges in the District of Arizona He admitted to accessing a victim’s Ring camera in Florida and making a call to the North Port Florida Police Department He then livestreamed the law enforcement response and posted a message on social media taking credit for the swatting incident Nelson has been in federal custody since August 2024 and previously served a prison sentence in Kentucky after being convicted in state court there in an unrelated case Tara Gutierrez is opening One Stop Shop Thrift on Saturday "I wanted to do something affordable for the community where they can get nice quality items for a very low price," Gutierrez said Tara Gutierrez likes to thrift any chance she gets with some of her best finds including a vintage Coach purse she gifted to her cousin “Anytime I see something (and) it catches my eye then I’ll just stop in and see what’s in there,” she said “I love it because you find so many unique things.” Racine thrifting and shopping enthusiasts will have a new spot to look for their own unique finds Gutierrez is opening One Stop Shop Thrift at 240 Main St this weekend This comes as 8 in 10 Americans are planning to rely more on second-hand shopping to offset rising costs, according to a StorageUnits.com survey 48% cited high traditional retail prices as the primary reason for turning to thrifting One Stop Shop Thrift officially opens at 10 a.m with grand opening celebrations occurring from 2-4 p.m who has been thrifting since she was in her 20s said she previously considered opening a retail store but “wasn’t really interested in that” and “didn’t really know where to begin.” suggested last year that Gutierrez open a thrift store “I wasn’t hesitant to jump into it,” she said figuring out what donations would be accepted and collecting items for the store “The response from the community has been great,” she said Gutierrez said her spot in Downtown Racine lets her be “right in the middle of everything.” downtown is the perfect spot because it’s for everything — all types of businesses,” she said Gutierrez said she’s excited to meet community members who have been “looking for this type of store.” “It’s a family friendly thrift store,” she said Gutierrez said she’d also like to help people find certain items that might not be available at regular thrift stores and get it for them at a low price Offering quality items at affordable prices is an important goal and she’s willing to negotiate prices “to help the community.” Gutierrez has noticed increased prices at some second-hand stores Gutierrez will spot a graphic shirt priced at $50 customers will be able to get similar items for around $10 “I wouldn’t sell anything that I wouldn’t buy,” she said “But the difference is instead of going in and having to pay $50 for it Located in the upstairs unit of a downtown storefront One Stop Shop Thrift is a smaller space compared to other thrift stores “Not everyone likes to be in a big environment Although One Stop Shop Thrift is Gutierrez’s first retail endeavor she didn’t have concerns about opening the shop and I know this is something that I was meant to do It’s been exciting for me,” Gutierrez said and I think people will be excited to see it.” One Stop Shop Thrift will be open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m the store is unable to take jewelry and furniture Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly Amazon's Prime Day 2025 could feature fewer deals and lower inventory as third-party sellers retreat amid rising import costs tied to new tari… Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — A Racine man was killed Sunday night after officers attempted to arrest him in connection with a violent domestic abuse assault they located the man wanted for the assault that had occurred earlier in the day When officers approached the area in the 900 block of 17th Street he quickly crashed about half a block away Police said the man then exited the vehicle with a handgun in his hand He was starting to raise it when a Racine police officer discharged his firearm and struck him officers attempted to render aid to the male and a rescue team continued “life saving measures.” the male suspect died from his injuries at the scene Police said in accordance with department policy the officers involved in the incident were put on administrative leave They said anyone with information — witnesses or citizens — should call the department’s Investigations Unit at 262-635-7756 You can also submit a tip anonymously by using Crime Stopper at 262-636-9330 or through the app using P3 Tips Police said the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation is now handling the investigation RACINE, Wis – (Civic Media) – A man was shot and killed by Racine police late Sunday after allegedly raising a handgun at officers during an attempted arrest, authorities said. According to a statement from the Racine Police Department, officers tried to arrest the man around 11:12 p.m. in the 900 block of 17th Street in connection with a violent domestic abuse assault reported earlier that day. Police said the man took off in a vehicle and crashed nearby. He then proceeded to exit the vehicle with a handgun, at which point an officer fired, striking him. The statement says officers and rescue personnel attempted life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the inquiry, and the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Want More Local News?We've got you. Scan it to get it. News Ethics and Standards | Privacy Policy A Hartmann’s Mountain zebra foal was born April 25 at 8:38 p.m to mother Promise and father Obi at the Racine Zoo Authorities say millions of coins spilled onto a Texas highway this week after a tractor-trailer hauling $800,000 in dimes rolled over in an accident RACINE — Who’s a boy with black-and-white stripes The newest member of the Racine Zoo family This is the second Hartmann’s Mountain foal to be born at the zoo and an important addition to the Hartmann’s Mountain zebra population according to a recent Racine Zoo press release With Hartmann’s Mountain zebras vulnerable in their native habitats in southern Africa the foal is an important contribution to global conservation of this species curator of animal care and conservation at the zoo said they cannot wait to introduce the new foal to the public “This successful birth is a testament to the hard work of the animal care specialists and medical team monitoring Promise’s pregnancy and daily care,” he said with the baby nursing and hours after birth Continued training allowed for careful monitoring of Promise’s condition as her due date approached Hartmann’s Mountain zebra pregnancies are a full year in length care staff began to suspect Promise was pregnant early in the summer of 2024 Hormone testing and an ultrasound confirmed the pregnancy this past fall In order to ensure a safe and healthy birth day and night for weeks via night-vision camera They tracked and recorded all of her behaviors While mom and baby will be off-exhibit to bond until the weather is consistently warmer updates on the progress of the foal will be posted on the zoo’s social media accounts The zoo will also hold a contest to name the foal and have exclusive zebra apparel available soon Youth and adult shirts and sweatshirts will be available in multiple colors Funds raised by the contest and apparel will directly support the care of the baby zebra with last admissions of the day at 3:30 p.m Admission is free for zoo members and ages 2 and younger; $9 ages 3-15; $10 seniors; $11 adults For more information, go to www.racinezoo.org call 262-636-9189 or visit the zoo on Facebook The best Resorter cover of 2024: A crane apparently cleaning itself just outside the office window of Phil Dantuma The Best Resorter Cover of 2024 was published March 13 even a rodeo were part of the 175th Walworth County Fair The East Troy Bluegrass Festival turned 30 years old in September Along with the Riviera in Lake Geneva and Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay Black Point Estate & Gardens (pictured) is another iconic Geneva Lake location Built by a Chicago beer baron over 135 years ago Black Point is now a piece of living history that guests can experience firsthand thanks to the programs and offerings managed by the Wisconsin Historical Society This shot ran on the cover of the Resorter April 24 Local tourism group Visit Lake Geneva put together the ultimate summer to-do list and shared this shot with it This was the cover of the Resorter published May 8 The fountain at the Riviera’s Driehaus Family Plaza in Lake Geneva made the cover of the July 31 A gaggle of geese bask in the fading daylight at Echo Lake in Burlington’s Echo Veterans Memorial Park One of the Lake Geneva Cruise Line boats at the Riviera Docks in Lake Geneva is the yacht Polaris Young was one of the original millionaires on Geneva Lake Polaris made the cover of the Resorter Aug Some of the best gingerbread houses in the Lake Geneva area were at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa The resort hosts a gingerbread house competition each year and the entries are located in the upper level of the Brissago Foyer This photo was on the cover of Resorter Dec Sundown over Geneva Lake adds extra splendor to the fall colors on a tree near the corner of Wrigley Drive and Campbell Street in Lake Geneva Where are you going to watch the 151st Run for the Roses there are several local celebrations of the horse race BURLINGTON — The first production of the 2025 season for the Burlington Haylofters starts May 9 ELKHORN — A rollicking spin on a classic tale is what the Lakeland Players promise to provide in “Once Upon a Mattress.” The latest exhibit at Gallery 223 in Lake Geneva is the Late Spring Show that features artworks by members of the Geneva Lake Arts Foundation TOWN OF LINN — Step into the Gilded Age and learn more about forgotten times along Geneva Lake when Black Point Estate and Gardens opens this spring Joseph Cathoiic Church 1533 Erie Street Racine John was given the middle name James—and with his father also named John it didn’t take long before he was affectionately called “Jimmy.” His mother needed a quick way to distinguish which "John" she was yelling for (or at) As he grew into the man the world would come to know and admire John’s life took a beautiful turn on Friday 1954—the Friday before Christmas—when fate brought him together with the love of his life Though they had known of each other for years their paths truly crossed when Patricia missed her bus distracted by a letter from a Marine friend John pulled up and offered her a ride to work—which was right across from the Racine Journal Times That chance ride led to their first date: a trip to Porter’s of Racine Some of Patricia’s most cherished memories were of Christmas Eve celebrations crashing through the front door in full costume He never entered a room quietly—and he never left a heart untouched John’s journey was as impressive as it was inspiring he became the youngest district manager in Racine Journal Times history His sharp mind and relentless dedication eventually led him to the role of City Circulation Manager John embarked on what he considered his true profession—becoming an award-winning real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in Racine bringing his natural charm and extensive network to the world of real estate John proudly held season tickets since 1958 attending more than 300 games over the years Michael Heinrichs (Shannon Giese) and Kathy (Mike) Setzer; grandchildren and Scarlett Goodpasture; His beloved fur-grandbabies Mudge and Halliday (his favorite) — "Those ears always perked up when they heard 'Grandpa'!" His original fur-babies remains (Riley) will be interned with John The family would like to offer a very special thank you to Kathy Setzer for her tireless care and devotion to Mom through all of this as well as to her husband Mike Setzer and sons Michael and Troye Setzer for the many sacrifices and unwavering support they gave Your love and commitment have been a true blessing to our family An acknowledgment is also given to Eileen Stauss who has been a self-assigned and devoted participant in all of the family's affairs John Heinrichs leaves behind a lifetime of stories He will be remembered not just for what he did A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday 1533 Erie Street followed by entombment at Holy Cross Cemetery Relatives and friends may meet prior to the Mass 10 am until 11:30 am please send flowers to someone you love—while they’re still here to enjoy their beauty and the sentiment behind them JavaScript is disabled. In order to use all of the features on meredithfuneralhome.com, enable JavaScript.Close A Racine man died after an officer from the Racine Police Department shot him just after 11 p.m and community leaders gathered outside several schools in the Racine Unified School District Thursday morning to protest potential federal cuts to public education RELATED: Hundreds march through Milwaukee streets in 'Day Without Immigrants' protest against The demonstrations were part of an effort led by the National Education Association dozens of teachers and school staff walked into work as a group a German teacher at Case High School and one of the local organizers said he’s concerned about the Trump administration’s proposals to reduce federal funding for public schools He believes this move would hit already underfunded districts like Racine the hardest Watch: Racine educators rally against cuts to schools “There’s a lot of people out there who don’t know the dangers that we face in public education with federal cuts,” Zydzik said We’re always being asked to do more with less.” Participants held signs and chanted phrases like “Fund our schools!” Zydzik said the goal was not just to raise public awareness but also to set an example for students Zydzik also warned that without intervention the long-term impact on the district could be devastating “The very worst-case scenario is that this district ceases to exist,” he said The Walk-ins at RUSD were just one of several May Day efforts nationwide The day traditionally recognizes International Worker's Day and the labor movement hundreds participated in a "Day Without Immigrants and Workers,"a demonstration organized by Voces de la Frontera The group also aimed to raise concerns over actions by the Trump administration and emphasize the economic impact of the Hispanic community in Milwaukee Wisconsin's GOP said the day's protests are advocating for far-left ideas like sanctuary states and cities "Wisconsinites made it clear in November that they want illegal immigration to end and for the rule of law to be restored," the statement went on Thursday, May 1, 2025 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM CDT Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home Racine Location 803 Main St. Racine, WI 53403 (262) 634-7888 Masonic Service at 6:30 pm Trisagion Service at 7:00 pm Driving Directions 2025 11:30 AM CDT Kimissis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church 1335 S At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice Kimissis tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church Web Site Unity Masonic Lodge 367 Web Site son of the late Peter and Kalliop (Nee: Georgoutos) Kyriazes Coming to the United States at the age of 15 he found his way to relatives in Racine and went on to graduate from Wm Horlick High School at Kimissis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church he was united in marriage to Jane E Daubers and they were together nearly 47 years before Jane passed July 15 he made a living shining shoes and later cleaning at Lindstrom Bakery Lindstrom took him under his wing and placed him in the apprentice baker program In 1960 Ted reopened Oliver’s Bakery in Kenosha and owned and operated it for nearly 50 years He was a member of Kimissis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church and experiencing adventures with his friends and family He also had a passion for gardening and was often found in his yard “playing” with his flowers and plants Ted will be remembered for his love of family his generosity and his dedication to the community Above all he treasured time spent with his family especially his grandchildren Peter (Patty) Kyriazes of Pleasant Prairie; daughter at Kimissis tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church Interment will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park Visitation will be held Thursday at the funeral home 4 pm until 7 p.m A Masonic Service will be held at 6:30 pm and a Trisagion Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m In lieu of flowers memorials to Kimissis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church or the Unity Masonic Lodge 367 of Kenosha have been suggested The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Dr Michael Mullane for his loving and compassionate care — After losing hundreds of dollars to a scammer posing as a law enforcement officer a Racine woman is speaking up in the hopes of helping others avoid a similar trap Maddisen Wheatley contacted TMJ4 News after she received a voicemail from someone claiming to be with the Racine County Sheriff's Office The caller warned that Wheatley had missed jury duty and that there were four police officers who told me it sounds like a scam," Wheatley said “I’ve never really been in contact with authorities like that so I didn’t know what was happening,” she added I'm not going to tell the police to come and get me like I want to work with them." Wheatley told TMJ4's Tahleel Mohieldin that the scammer knew personal details about her and even played the sound of a police scanner in the background to make the situation sound more legitimate who demanded the 22-year-old remain on the line where she transferred $500 under the threat of arrest Wheatley went to the Racine County Sheriff's Office "I was upset with myself that I didn’t catch on." A spokesperson with the Racine County Sheriff's Office said similar scams have been a source of regular complaints with impersonators even using the real names of sheriff’s office staff or spoofing local numbers Watch: Racine woman scammed out of hundreds by fake officer RCSO estimates they receive complaints like Wheatley's once or more a month which can be difficult to investigate because the criminals hide the origins of their telephone numbers Officials urge residents to be cautious with unsolicited calls that involve threats or urgent financial demands They also recommend contacting their non-emergency line directly to verify the truthfulness of a telephone call at (262) 886-2300 RSCO's advice for protecting yourself and others from falling victim to these scams: — The owners of a bar in Racine have breathed a sigh of relief after the man who robbed them last month was caught The incident happened on March 1 when a masked man pointed a gun at Double Vision Bartender Courtney Smith before emptying the register of more than $7,000 and walking out “When the lady from 911 answered the call and I had to say it out loud Smith said that when the burglar first walked in at around 6:30 a.m. He instead asked if there was another bartender on duty before aiming a gun at Smith let him do what he wanted to do and just waited for him to go out the door,” Smith recalled The next time she would see the suspect would be April 10 via Zoom Thirty-one-year-old Marcus McClain has been charged with armed robbery as a party to a crime According to court records officers got surveillance video from another business in the area that showed McClain using a Nissan Rogue near Double Vision Watch: Community tips lead to arrest in Racine bar robbery They also got a tip that the 31-year-old may be the suspect before tracking the car to McClain’s residence That paired with a limp that officers were able to identify in the surveillance footage which they believed was due to a gunshot McClain suffered in August 2024 The bar’s co-owner Kevin Coey told TMJ4’s Tahleel Mohieldin it was their community of customers who he said are more like friends and family that helped police identify and capture McClain “The police department can only do so much I really believe community involvement is what helps them succeed,” he said asking for help identifying the masked suspect within one-hour tips started rolling in and didn’t stop for weeks “I could never say thank you enough,” he shared Each one of the responses I got and tips that I got is like a piece to a puzzle." which he said he researched and vetted himself before passing the information off to investigators Those tips made an impact not just on the investigation but on his bartender as well despite the ordeal she’s still comfortable behind the bar “It’s just all the caring and support and togetherness that’s helped,” she shared “Everyone’s watching out for you so it’s not scary.” Racine County District 4 Supervisor and City of Racine District 5 Alder Melissa Kaprelian applauded community members for getting involved in the public safety process “A good sense of ownership is to know that we’re responsible for those spaces too,’ she emphasized “We’re the ones who know what’s familiar and we also know what might seem off.” Kaprelian said while the area’s police force is dedicated they can’t be the eyes of the whole community and asked residents to follow the lead of Double Vision’s response