Fox Valley Metro Police Department. PC: Fox 11 Online
LITTLE CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Nearly two months after a Good Samaritan in Little Chute was attacked while trying to help someone else, Fox Valley Metro Police have identified a suspect.
The incident happened in early June on East Lincoln Avenue as crowds were leaving the Cheesefest Grounds.
The victim was injured as he tried to break up a fight in his own front yard.
It’s been a long two months for the Good Samaritan turned victim of the June 2nd attack in Little Chute. The man, who only wants to be identified as Keith, says he suffered a head injury that required more than a dozen staples, after being thrown, head first, into this tree.
He also tore a ligament in his hand that required surgery.
As the victim continues to recover, Fox Valley Metro Police say they’ve finally identified one of the suspects in the attack. It’s a 17-year old male whose last known address in Wisconsin was in Menasha.
“I’m proud of our team for working it backwards and able to come to some sort of resolution. I know the community wanted answers. We wanted to give the community answers and I’m glad we’re able to bring some sort of resolution to this and hopefully some sort of peace to our community,” said Lt. Mark Wery with Fox Valley Metro Police.
According to police, after reviewing surveillance videos, from the night of the incidents, they worked with other local law enforcement agencies to identify the 17-year old. But, when police went to arrest the teen, they learned he and his family had relocated to South Carolina.
The victim saying he’s appreciative of the police work, saying they were looking for a needle in a haystack.
Lt. Wery said, “It was our intention, it is disappointing that we weren’t able to hold them accountable immediately and take them into custody.”
Police have referred charges of disorderly conduct and battery to the Outagamie County District Attorney’s Office. Both are misdemeanors, but could be enhanced based on the victim’s injuries.
“That distance between us and South Carolina certainly poses some challenges,” said Wery. He added, “At this point, it’s really here in Wisconsin and what we’re going to do here in Wisconsin. And are we going to bring this person back to basically answer for what they have done and that just remains to be seen yet.”
The District Attorney’s Office says it has not yet received the referral for charges, but when it does it will review the case and with the suspect living out of state they will determine how best to proceed.
Keith, the victim, saying “I am very thankful with the hard work Fox Valley Metro put into this case and the quick response time they had.”
He added, “I also want to thank everyone in the community for the overwhelming amount of care and support I was shown. We live in a small tightknit community that has no room for this type of behavior in it! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!”
As for what Keith hopes happens to the suspect, he said, “I don’t want to see a young man’s life destroyed because of a bad decision he made one might. I would be happy if my medical bills and loss of wages were taken care of. For me, him having to take care of that would be punishment enough.”
To help pay for some of his medical expenses, Keith says a benefit is being planned for September 7th from 5p.m. to 9p.m. at the Soda Bar in Appleton.
Comments