Jacob R. Kearney, 27, Waupaca, faces charges of escape from arrest, battery to an officer, two counts of resisting an officer and felony bail jumping.
At about 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, Waupaca Police Sgt. Mario Graceffa and Officer Nate Nelson were patrolling Main Street when they saw a group of people standing in front of City Hall. As the officers pulled over to speak with them, one of the group began to walk quickly away.
Due to at least 20 prior contacts, Graceffa recognized the man as Kearney, who also had an active warrant for his arrest.
Graceffa then called for backup, walked into Weasel’s, through the bar and out onto a patio where he found Kearney.
When Graceffa attempted to take him into custody, Kearney pulled away and started running through the gate of the patio’s fence, the criminal complaint says. While struggling to hold onto Kearney in the narrow space between the patio fence and a parked car, both of Graceffa’s arms were injured. He subsequently went to Riverside Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.
About two hours later, Graceffa and two other officers responded to a report that Kearney was inside an apartment on North Street.
When they arrived, Graceffa saw a woman standing near a second-story window and the blue glow of her cell phone as she waved at him. Officers also reported hearing someone crying.
Officer Nelson waited outside, while Sgt. Graceffa and Officer Brent Krueger entered the building.
As Graceffa and Krueger prepared to make forced entry into the apartment, Nelson radioed them and said Kearney was climbing out a window. As they headed down the stairs, Nelson radioed again and said Kearney had gone back inside.
Graceffa then saw movement and found Kearney crouching behind a half-wall railing on the second floor.
After he was handcuffed and lying face down on the floor, Kearney attempted to get up, according to the criminal complaint. Police say he started swearing and yelling at the officers, saying, “I own you. You’re public servants which makes me your master.”
Another struggle ensued. “With his right hand, Sgt. Graceffa secured Kearney’s head to the carpet by pressing it to the floor,” the complaint says.
Kearney then accused Graceffa of assaulting and abusing him.
On April 21, Kearney was charged with felony strangulation, battery and disorderly conduct as acts of domestic abuse. Judge Philip Kirk set a $2,000 signature bond as a condition of his release.
Kearney failed to make a court appearance on May 6 and Kirk issued a warrant for his arrest.
On May 13, Kearney was arrested and subsequently charged with battery and disorderly conduct as acts of domestic abuse, as well as a felony count of bail jumping. He was released on a $5,000 signature bond, then failed to make a May 27 court appearance and another warrant was issued for his arrest.
On June 5, Kearney appeared in court on his most recent charges and Kirk ordered that he be held in custody on a $5,000 cash bond.