State Crime and Court Roundup: Arrest made in a church burglary in Hartford

Talk about it

HARTFORD - A 21-year-old man was arrested yesterday for a burglary-and-vandalism at a church in Hartford.

First Baptist Church had its windows broken on Friday, and a fire extinguisher was sprayed inside. Somebody told police yesterday that a man was seen with injuries to his hands-and-arms soon after the break-in – and he apparently claimed he was running from police. Officials said the man moved out-of-state before returning to Hartford a couple weeks ago. He had been wanted on five previous warrants for municipal violations.

___________________________________________________________________________

Fifty-five goats were killed in a barn fire west of Janesville, and investigators are still trying to determine how it started. Units responded to a farm on Highway 14 around 9:15 Saturday night. Total damage was estimated at 170-thousand dollars. The barn became engulfed in flames soon after the initial fire-fighters arrived. Four fire departments were eventually called to help. No persons were injured. The smoke could be seen from a mile away, and traffic on Highway 14 was detoured for five hours while the blaze was being fought.

___________________________________________________________________________

Two boys were killed, and two other children were hurt in a Sunday morning duplex fire in the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis. At a vigil last night, family members identified the victims as 14-year-old Michael Gonzalez and 14-year-old Isaiha Kobow. They said the children were burned so severely, that dental records will be needed to officially identify them. Michael’s 13-year-old brother Joel Gonzalez was in fair condition at last word at Milwaukee Children’s Hospital. Their four-year-old brother Kendall was expected to survive, but there was no word on his condition. Relatives said the four youngsters were alone upstairs – and a downstairs’ resident knocked on the door and woke up Joel. Investigators said Joel rescued young Kendall and then went back inside to get the others – but he was stopped by the flames. The Gonzalez brothers normally stayed with a grandmother, but they were at their mother’s house for the weekend. One relative said they were celebrating Joel’s birthday, which took place a few days earlier. The state Fire Marshal and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are helping West Allis authorities investigate the cause of the fire.

Tags: news, wisconsin, crime, courts