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Applebee's Manager Fired in Wake of Alleged Incident of Police Brutality

Aug. 14, 2023 9:30p; Updated 8-15 with arrest in chase

From WGTD News:

There's collateral damage to report as the result of that incident at an Applebee's restaurant in Kenosha last month in which Kenosha police are being criticized for their handling of an investigation. Judging from a bystander cellphone video, a Black man was thrown to the floor and repeatedly struck in the head after refusing to cooperate with police. He and his girlfriend were both arrested, even though they weren't involved in a hit and run that was under investigation. Now comes word that the on-duty manager was fired. CBS 58 was the first to report the firing. Jennifer Harris told the TV station that the dismissal was tied to the incident, although she didn't film it or talk about it to reporters. Harris had been with Applebee's for a dozen years and had intended to move up the managerial ladder. Applebee's declined to comment when contacted yesterday by Wisconsin Public Radio. Harris has retained an attorney. At last report a police department internal investigation is underway.

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A high-speed chase ended with a three-vehicle crash on Kenosha's north side Monday night. According to scanner traffic, a vehicle with several people inside took off on a UW-Parkside police officer. The officer pursued the car south on 30th Ave. The suspect's vehicle collided with two other vehicles at Washington Rd. No one was seriously injured. The occupants of the vehicle being pursued ran east. Kenosha police got involved and a juvenile was arrested. Officers later learned the car in question had been stolen.  

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No action was taken by a Kenosha city council committee Monday night on a proposal to require landlords to register with the city. Jan Michalski, the alderman who chairs Public Safety and Welfare, announced that city administration wanted more time to address objections to the proposal, which is patterned after an ordinance that's currently in place in Eau Claire. Despite the committee's decision to table the proposal, several citizens spoke on the matter. Byron Wright is a retired director of a non-profit that rented dozens of apartments for clients. He had praise for the property owners that he dealt with over the years. Other speakers Monday night--and last month when the proposal first surfaced--said the primary concern is absentee landlords. 

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A large housing development in Pleasant Prairie has been toned down. The village board Monday night approved several changes that were meant to appease nearby residents of the proposed, 275-acre Highland Estates subdivision. A rental option has been removed from the package of housing products, leaving single-family homes, townhouses and condos. The number of lots, initially proposed at 735, was scaled down to just over 700. The site is located east of Green Bay Rd. and north of State Highway 165. 

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