West Bend, WI – Neighbors on the east side of West Bend in the area of Woodridge Road, Longmeadow, and Maplewynde Road, are scared to death as news starts to travel about the pending release of Douglas Carter. WARNING – the content of this article is graphic and may be disturbing in nature.
It was June 20, 2023, when West Bend Police, Washington County Sheriff’s deputies and the SWAT team took Carter into custody following an extended standoff in the 1700 block of Woodridge Road in West Bend, WI.
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Neighbors like Paul and Meagan Tatro remember it vividly.
“He hollered at my wife, I’m going to slit your husband’s throat and I’m going to rape you you stupid fuckin’ bitch. It was completely unprovoked. He’s just deranged,” said Paul Tatro.
“I’ve followed his case diligently through court and all the charges are being dismissed; no felony convictions, no medications, no firearm restrictions,” he said. “I was told he maxed out his time and it’s just one of those things that falls through the cracks.”
Carter was initially charged with felony failure to comply with officer, and misdemeanor charges including operate firearm while intoxicated, resisting /obstructing an officer, dangerous use of a weapon, disorderly conduct, and a handful of bail jumping charges. He is also facing misdemeanor criminal charges tied to two previous incidents.
Tatro said the scenario just keeps getting worse. “Even the doctor at Winnebago Mental Health Institute said he’s incapable of making decisions himself, so what do they do… release him to a house he can’t live in, no court order for medications, no Chapter 51, and you’re not doing a service to him or the neighbors.
“Other than us getting restraining orders… this system is failing immensely,” he said. “Something bad is going to happen when he is released.”
Carter is scheduled to be released December 2, 2024.
Meagan Tatro is not comfortable with this at all. “We’re thinking about moving because of this,” she said. “My children are afraid of him. It took almost a year for my children to be able to go in the backyard because of this. He threatened them too saying he was going to send them down a river to drown to them.
“I just feel like it’s a failing of the system to keep him safe and us as well. We’re all nervous. He’s threatened all of us.”
West Bend Police were contacted about the situation. An email below is from Lt. Brian McAndrews.
In reference to your voicemail earlier; The police department is aware of the status of court proceedings involving Douglas Carter. Chief Dehring has had direct discussion with District Attorney Bensen regarding the matter. The primary objective of the police department is to ensure public safety and we will do all that we can within the law to accomplish that mission. At this time the Carter residence does not hold an occupancy permit. Work needs to be completed at the home before the city will reissue an occupancy permit. If determined Mr. Carter is to be released into our community the police department will provide community notification of that fact, will provide dedicated extra attention to where Mr. Carter is living, and will hold him accountable to obey the law. I encourage you to contact District Attorney Bensen if you have questions on legal action the D.A may still be pursuing in this matter.
Lieutenant Brian McAndrews
A call was placed to D.A. Mark Bensen on Thursday afternoon. His response will be posted when the call is returned.
The Tatros were asked if the police acknowledgement of the situation helped. “Ultimately, it is hard for us to believe there’s nothing in place in our levels of government to protect people like us in this position, and to protect him from himself. This is all extremely frustrating,” said Meagan Tatro.
Tomorrow, Part 2 of the pending release of Douglas Carter. We will publish Meagan Tatro’s letter to Washington County Judge James Muehlbauer. It was a letter she was not allowed to read in court.
This is a working story and more information will be posted when details are available.
Below are previously published articles about Douglas Carter and a history of the 1990 homicide at the Carter home on Woodridge Road.
December 21, 2023 – West Bend, Wi – Douglas Carter, 56, accused of holding a SWAT team at bay in the 1700 block of Woodridge Road in June 2023, has been found not competent to stand trial and the case has been suspended.
Carter appeared in Judge James K. Muehlbauer’s court this week for a competency hearing.
Since the initial offense, Carter had been released on $30,000 cash bond. However, that bond was revoked, and he was remanded back into custody on 10/23/23.
His bond was then reinstated on November 1, 2023 and he was released.
On December 19, 2023 he was remanded back into custody where he remains now.
Below are previous stories regarding Douglas Carter.
September 21, 2023 – West Bend, WI – Douglas Carter, 56, posted bond in Washington County Court today, even after the amount was raised to $30,000 because the court said he failed to comply with an order to complete a competency exam. It was June 20, 2023, when West Bend Police, Washington County Sheriff’s deputies and the SWAT team took Carter into custody following an extended standoff in the 1700 block of Woodridge Road in West Bend, WI.
Police said the resident was “making threats to harm a neighboring family with a knife and burn down another home.”
Charges were filed in Judge James Muehlbauer’s courtroom.
Carter is charged with a felony failure to comply with officer, and misdemeanor charges including operate firearm while intoxicated, resisting /obstructing an officer, dangerous use of a weapon, disorderly conduct, and a handful of bail jumping charges. He is also facing misdemeanor criminal charges tied to two previous incidents.
In court Thursday afternoon:
Carter is facing similar charges from several incidents including one June 6, 2023, another June 13, 2023, and then the last incident June 20, 2023.
The initial competency exam was ordered June 22, 2023. The issue regarding the exam was reiterated during an August 11, 2023 court hearing, and now again Carter is being ordered to comply with the exam.
Neighbors noted Carter was home briefly on August 11, 2023, to gather some belongings and move his truck into the garage. Court records also indicate he’s move to Lake Bernice Drive in Campbellsport.
In the cases against Carter both have instructions that he have “No contact with L.L.C., M.L.G., T.J.G., E.Z. Absolute sobriety. Not possess any dangerous weapons. No contact with the residents located at addresses listed on bond or the properties.” The other instructions include: “No contact with L.A.C. and E.Z. Not possess any firearms. Absolute sobriety.”
A check of the Washington County Jail shows Carter posted $30,000 bond and was released September 21, 2023.
Click HERE for current status on whether Carter is still in custody.
On a history note: Carter’s home on Woodridge Road used to be in the name of David Carter, who was convicted in 1990 in Washington County Circuit court of 2nd degree reckless homicide.
Carter’s wife, Catherine Pesch, died in 1990. David Carter was sentenced to 8 years in prison. The homicide occurred inside the home.
David Carter died March 8, 2019 at the age of 80. His obituary lists Douglas Carter as his son.
Washington County tax records show Douglas Carter currently listed as the homeowner at the address on Woodridge Road, West Bend, WI.
Below is the original story that ran June 20, 2023 at WashingtonCountyInsider.com
A man, Douglas Carter, was taken into custody in the 1700 block of Woodridge Road on Tuesday evening, June 20, 2023, around 7:47 p.m. following an extended standoff with police.
A large military vehicle sat on the front lawn of the home in a neighborhood on the southeast end of town. Washington County Sheriffs were also on scene along with the SWAT Team.
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Squads were parked at the end of Paradise Drive and Maplewynde, cordoning off the area. Neighbors lined Maplewynde as they waited out the situation.
The standoff reportedly started earlier in the afternoon at 3:20 p.m.
Around 7 p.m. after police were spotting unloading a black case from the back of a squad on Longmeadow Drive, there was a loud bang around 7:30 p.m.
Police had been shouting orders through a megaphone ordering the man to come out with his hands up.
Shortly after the bang, Carter, dressed in a white t-shirt and greenish pants, was led out of the garage.
Carter, who was taken into custody, was walking in bare feet and complained he was bleeding and in need of immediate medical attention. Other than Carter, it appeared nobody was injured.
This is a working story and more information will be posted when details are available.
This obviously ill man, will not be stopped until he carries through with his threats. I’ll be praying for his neighbors. Cannot imagine living in a neighborhood where you are afraid to go out of your house. Criminals appear to have more rights than those of us who uphold the law. Restraint orders are worthless.