A Kenosha Police officer was charged by the Racine County District Attorney’s after he assaulted his estranged wife’s boyfriend on Sunday morning in Kenosha.
The Racine County Sheriff’s Department investigated allegations that Kenosha Police Officer Kendal West — while on duty — threatened and punched an emergency room physician at United Hospital System, 6309 8th Ave., in Kenosha. Investigators with RCSD were assigned to the case by the Kenosha Police Department to avoid a conflict of interest.
According to the criminal complaint, the physician told investigators with the Racine County Sheriff’s Department that he had been seeing West’s wife for about a month. West’s wife had tried to serve him divorce papers earlier that day, but he tore them up.
Prior to the alleged assault, West had confronted his wife at a Kenosha bar at 1:41 a.m. and the group left. After leaving the bar, West called the physician and threatened him. The woman went to talk to the physician and while they were talking in the parking lot, West drove his squad car to their location. He got out of the car, charged at the physician and punched him two to three times in the head.
“West then returned to his squad car and accelerated towards (the physician), who was standing near (the woman’s) car,” the criminal complaint reads. “West then returned to his squad car and accelerated towards (the physician), who was standing near (the woman’s car). West swerved at the last minute, missing (the physician) by approximately two to three feet.”
Officials with the Kenosha Police Department told investigators with the Racine County Sheriff’s Department that West was on duty, but he was “operating outside of his assigned patrol area when the assault took place.”
West was charged with a misdemeanor count of battery, disorderly conduct (use of a dangerous weapon), and misconduct in public office (excess of authority). If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and/or fined up to $21,000.
A preliminary hearing was set for 8:15 a.m. Jan. 20 in Kenosha County. At the initial appearance on Tuesday, special prosecutor Christopher Steenrod was assigned to the case by the state.