The Milwaukee Post

4 • Milwaukee County Post • February 17, 2017 Governor appoints Laura Gutierrez state Safety and Professional Services secretary MILWAUKEE — Gov. Scott Walker has appointed Laura Gutierrez to serve as the sec- retary of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. "Laura has a strong background in education and leadership," Walker said in a news release. "Without a doubt, her experience working with different groups of people will ensure the Department of Safety and Professional Services is Working and Winning for Wisconsin." Gutierrez most recently served as vice president of Academic Affairs at St. Anthony School in Milwaukee. She previously served as assistant principal and Director of Instruction at Bruce Guadalupe Community School in Milwaukee. Gutierrez also served as an elementary and middle school instructor in various capac- ities since 1998, including sixth through 10th grade Spanish instructor and science instructor at Grand Avenue Middle School and middle school science instructor and ele- mentary school science consultant at Bruce Guadalupe Community School. From 2008- '09, Ms. Gutierrez worked as a clinical and microbiology laboratory assistant at Waukesha Memorial Hospital. Gutierrez received her Bachelor of Science degree from Carroll College and her Master of Arts in Leadership and Policy from Marquette University. WEEK IN REVIEW STATE AND LOCAL STORIES OF INTEREST Soccer league's license suspended after alleged sex assault by Milwaukee man reported WAUKESHA — The city's parks department has temporarily suspended the permit for an adult soccer league after an alleged sexual assault occurred outside the Schuetze Recreation Center last month. City Administrator Kevin Lahner said the suspension is tempo- rary while the permit is being reviewed. The move came just days after Cristian Sanchez, 26, of Milwaukee was charged with sexually assaulting a child after he allegedly touched a 15-year-old girl indecently and had other contact with her outside the Schuetze building two weeks ago. The girl identified Sanchez as a referee for a soccer league that plays there. An investigation determined Sanchez had been deported twice, and was the subject of an arrest warrant in Milwaukee County since 2014. Lahner said the city rented the Schuetze Recreation Center, 1120 Baxter St., to the Christian Soccer League LLC on Sundays from Jan. 1 through April 23, adding it is routine for the city to rent buildings to outside people and groups. "We are saddened that such an incident has been reported on City property and we are hopeful that justice will be served," Lahner's statement said. DHS report highlights opioid overdose rates in state as efforts shared to combat rampant use MILWAUKEE — The rate of opioid overdose deaths in Wisconsin has nearly doubled over the last decade, according to a new Department of Health Services report. "The misuse of opioids in Wisconsin is a critical public health issue, and this report offers key data to inform our work with local health departments, organizations, and coalitions to reduce opioid misuse, overdose and other related health problems," said State Health Officer Karen McKeown. The report includes these data highlights: ■ The rate of opioid overdose deaths increased from 5.9 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2006 to 10.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2015, or 81.4 percent. ■ Rates of drug overdose deaths involving opioids were higher among counties in the southeastern region of the state, and higher among men compared with women. ■ For men, drug overdose deaths involving opioids were highest among young adults age 25 to 34, and among women 35 to 54 years old. ■ Hospital visits involving opioid acute poisoning (including overdose) increased from 25.3 to 52.0 per 100,000 between 2006 and 2014, or 105.5 percent. ■ The rate of hospital visits involving heroin increased from 2.6 in 2006 to 17.4 in 2014, or 569.2 percent. For men and women, rates were highest among adults 20 to 24 years old. In 2016, the DHS issued a public health advisory due to the opioid epidemic. This year, Gov. Scott Walker called for a special session of the Legislature to consider recommen- dations presented by the Governor's Task Force on Opioid Abuse. New legislative pro- posals will build on efforts already underway thanks to the H.O.P.E. (Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education) agenda, which includes 17 bills aimed at prevention and treat- ment of opioid addiction and overdoses. South Side bank robbery suspect sought MILWAUKEE — Police said they are seeking a suspect in an armed robbery that took place at about 12:15 p.m. Monday at Associated Bank, 829 W. Historic Mitchell St. The male suspect fled on foot with money after giving a teller a note demanding money, police said. The suspect was described as a black male, about 35, 5 feet to 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighing about 210 pounds. He wore a gray knit hat, a black leather jacket, dark pants and black sunglasses. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 414-935-7360. Police note distinctive scarf in downtown bank robbery MILWAUKEE — Police are seeking a male suspect wanted in connection with an armed robbery at Brewery Credit Union, 1351 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, at about 9:30 a.m. Feb. 10. They say he wore a distinctive black-and-white chevron-style scarf. He fled on foot after demanding money from a teller, police said. The suspect was described as a black male, 17 to 21 years old, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, 160 pounds, with black hair in dreadlocks. Besides the scarf, he wore a dark pea coat and a dark knit cap. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 414-935-7360. MPD: 34-year-old man killed Monday morning in shooting in 1300 block of South 24th Street MILWAUKEE — Police continued to investigate the shooting death of a 34-year-old man that happened at about 6:20 a.m. Monday in the 1300 block of South 24th Street. Despite lifesaving efforts by police and fire personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Police identified the victim as Richard J. Allikas Jr., who suffered mul- tiple gunshot wounds to the abdomen, arm and leg. On Wednesday afternoon, police said they continued to seek a motive and search for suspects. Two killed in robbery attempt by boy, 14, with 13-year-old accomplice,West Allis police say WEST ALLIS — During a robbery attempt, a 14-year-old shot and killed two older males at a home in the 2100 block of South 89th Street, the Police Department reported. Spencer B. Lewis was charged Wednesday with two counts of first-degree homicide and armed robbery with use of force. Police found Xaviere-Romaine Edwards Jr., 19, of West Allis dead at the scene and Tarjan E. Edwards, 17, of West Allis died Tuesday, Deputy Police Chief Robert Fletcher said. They were shot by Lewis with a 40-caliber handgun in their home after playing video games, according to a criminal complaint. The two boys planned to play video games, rob Tarjan Edwards of marijuana and money, with Lewis carrying two extra mag- azines in case he had to reload, the complaint said. Lewis planned another robbery of another high school student but went home when he saw police cars, the complaint said. At about 10 a.m. Sunday, police were called to the scene, and by 2 p.m. they were able to identify and arrest the 14-year-old West Allis boy as the shooter, Fletcher said. Police also took into custody a 13-year-old boy, who was identified as an accomplice in the attempted robbery. He was referred to juvenile court. Sanchez

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