January 10, 2025 – Hartford, WI – Washington County Sheriff’s investigators made several arrests early Thursday morning in connection with a fatal drug overdose that occurred in the City of Hartford in June of 2024.
The investigation started with the City of Hartford Police Department investigating the deadly drug overdose of a 39-year-old Hartford woman. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office Multi-Jurisdictional Drug unit opened an investigation into the source of drugs and was able to identify the suspect as a 30-year-old City of Milwaukee man.
Washington County investigators collaborated with the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation Overdose Death Initiative, and the Wisconsin Counterdrug Program for several months.
This investigation culminated Thursday morning with three search warrants executed by tactical teams in the City of Milwaukee and one in the Village of Grafton.
The 30-year-old man who was the main target of the investigation remains in custody in Ozaukee County on unrelated charges. He will face formal charges in Washington County later today, including felony charges of reckless homicide, conspiracy to deliver fentanyl, and multiple counts of bail jumping.
That suspect was released from the Wisconsin State Prison system on extended supervision in 2021 after being charged with first-degree reckless homicide and pleading guilty to the distribution of narcotics relating to a 2019 arrest.
While out on parole, he was arrested and charged in Waupaca County for his role in multiple overdoses, including one fatal in their jurisdiction. He was out on bond on that case while remaining on extended supervision with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) when he allegedly sold fentanyl relating to our death.
Investigators also arrested two other City of Milwaukee men Thursday for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine. A stolen Glock handgun that had been altered to allow it to operate fully automatic was also recovered during the search along with illegal narcotics.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office will be reviewing the case for local charges.
This investigation came to a successful conclusion today as a direct result of the hard work and dedication of many investigators. We are grateful for our assisting agencies, including the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), City of Milwaukee Police and Fire Departments, North Central HIDTA, Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Medical Examiner’s Office, Hartford Police Department K9 Flash, and Grafton Police Department.
Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis shared his thoughts on the case:
“This case is bittersweet for me. Jurisdictional boundaries often create significant challenges for law enforcement in cases like this. Our investigators traced the fentanyl that killed the victim back to a sale in the City of Milwaukee; however, our jurisdiction does not typically extend into Milwaukee. I appreciate the strong partnerships with the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, the DCI Overdose Death Initiative, and the Wisconsin Counterdrug Program. Their support allowed us to extend our reach into Milwaukee to address those selling these dangerous drugs to our citizens.
I hope the message is clear: jurisdictional boundaries will not shield you from justice. This case is deeply troubling. It is incomprehensible to me how this individual was allowed to remain in society and continue selling dangerous drugs throughout Wisconsin. He is a suspect in at least five overdose death investigations. Despite being arrested and charged for similar offenses, and while on extended supervision from the Wisconsin DOC, his supervision was never revoked. To only compound matters he was then granted a cash bond in Waupaca County, allowing him to commit another deadly crime in Washington County.
As a public safety leader and the elected Sheriff of Washington County, I am simply outraged. The fact he was able to exploit the criminal justice system and operate with impunity is a systematic failure to the citizens I represent. I can only hope this latest arrest will finally put an end to his drug dealing and prevent future deaths, but this is only one case.”
Under the directive of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicity, a charge is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
