A Racine man is accused of threatening police officers and intimidating a victim on Monday after an argument turned physical.
Jermain Winters, 29, was charged by the Racine County District Attorney’s Office with making threats to law enforcement officers, battery to a law enforcement officer, felony intimidation of a victim, criminal damage to property, resisting a police officer, and disorderly conduct. If convicted of all charges, Winters faces up to 37 years six months in prison and/or fines up to $66,000.
According to the criminal complaint, officers with the Racine Police Department received a report of a couple having civil trouble on Monday in the 2200 block of Prospect Street.
When police arrived, they found a woman crying in the street. She told officers that Winters had assaulted her during an argument. Officers noted that there was a small fire in the driveway. The woman told police that Winters had set his clothes and her purse on fire when he realized that she was calling the police.
Winters ran from the home once he saw that the police were in the area. She reported that while she and Winters wrestled, he hit her on the right side of her face.
After police left the scene, a neighbor later called the police after hearing a loud thump and more arguing. The neighbor told police that Winters was in the home. Police knocked on the door, but no one answered. They could hear, however, a child crying. So they forced entry into the apartment.
When officers entered, they found three children crying and the woman on the floor crying hysterically. The officers arrested Winters, who was uncooperative. He made threats that he would physically harm them, used racial slurs, and swore at them. He also continued to threaten the woman.
“I am going to call my boys and she is gonna get shook,” he told police.
Officers had to lift Winters into the squad car and he kicked the door to the squad repeatedly. Refusing to take a breathalyzer test, Winters had to be taken to the hospital for a blood draw and he refused to cooperate with staff.
“I don’t talk to white people,” he said.
An officer stayed with the woman while Winters was being taken into police custody. The officer learned that the woman wasn’t able to open the door because he held a pocket knife pointed at her.
Winters — a repeat offender — was convicted of disorderly conduct, battery, and possession of a firearm-gang member in 2014.
A preliminary hearing has been set for 8:30 a.m. March 14.