Stephen Preisler. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – There’s relief among Green Bay neighbors after the man known as “Uncle Fester” is arrested on drug charges.
Stepehen Preisler, also known as “Uncle Fester”, had been on law enforcement’s radar for years. He is known for writing books on how make things such as ricin and methamphetamine.
And, he appeared to have stayed out of trouble after his 1982 arrest and conviction for making and selling drugs.
You may recall Preisler along with several other people were arrested at his Baird Street home last Friday. He’s facing a laundry list of drug charges.
Online records show Green Bay police were called to 826 South Baird Street, the home Stephen Preisler owned and was living in when he was arrested last Friday, nearly 200 times since 2015. More than a hundred of those calls came in the last two and a half years.
“We knew that people were walking in and out and taking drugs out and selling it. We knew that,” says neighbor Michelle Colwell.
Despite all of those calls, according to retired Green Bay Police Captain Bill Galvin, who is now the alderman for this neighborhood, there was never enough evidence for authorities to arrest the homeowner, Stephen Preisler.
His home was labeled as a nuisance property and we’re told he was put on an abatement plan.
Galvin says, “The guy is not dumb. I mean, he is really an intelligent human being and so he knew what to do to try and clean things up to get the cops off his back. So, we were never able to get enough probable cause. I mean it’s easy on TV, but in real life it’s difficult.”
But as time went on, and neighbors were persistent, and they continued to voice concerns until they reached community police.
Colwell says, “Called the cops on them, more than enough times. So, it was just chaotic, lot of people in and out. We knew what was going on.”
“The neighbors were always calling me saying this is going on, this is happening and so I’d give it to the CP’s and then finally they got enough. They went in and made some arrests and it looks like they’ve got some substantial evidence to try and prosecute this guy,” adds Galvin.
According to the criminal complaint, authorities had been investigating Stephen Preisler and the activities at his home for months.
The Brown County Drug Task Force used a confidential informant to buy drugs from Preisler, twice in June, leading to last week’s search of his home and his arrest.
Search warrants revealed drugs and drug paraphernalia, along with drug packaging materials were found in the home.
For decades, the man known for writing books on how to make bombs and drugs, lived in the Baird Street house. Galvin says police knew he was a resident of Green Bay, but for the most part he flew under the radar.
In a 2007 interview with WITI-TV Milwaukee, Preisler himself boasted about his writings, but claimed he wasn’t breaking the law.
At the time he said, “I haven’t cooked meth in ages. I’m just about 50, I’m 49 right now. I’m reaching the age where you like to get a good sleep at night.”
While it’s unclear how long Preisler may have been making drugs and selling them out of his home, Galvin says investigations like these take time and authorities did what was necessary to make sure they had everything they needed for a successful resolution. “It was the neighbors working together, working with the police, not getting frustrated and just giving up that I think really made the difference here.”
And now those neighbors say they bonded over cleaning up their street are relieved their work has paid off.
Michelle Colwell adds, “I hope it’s condemned. I hope he’s gone. I hope everybody he’s affiliated with his gone. I hope it’s all done.”
Preisler remains in the Brown County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
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