• Tweet
• Share
• Email
• Print

HANCOCK - An off-duty Milwaukee police detective allegedly choked a man during a violent bar fight, and the video shows the whole thing. Detective Lawrence Schimke is now charged with trying to suffocate a man while he was off duty.

The detective's attorney said Schimke never touched or choked anyone that night, but the video shows something else.

Sneaky Pete's in Waushara County is a bar known to locals. But don't let the name fool you, you can't be too sneaky because cameras are always rolling. They were rolling last November when Schimke jumped from a bar stool and attacked a man.

In the video, you can see Milwaukee Police Detective Lawrence Schimke on camera sitting at the bar. His 13-year-old son is sitting behind him playing a video game.

Because of the incident, the detective is facing criminal charges and an internal investigation by MPD. The criminal complaint accused Schimke of making advances towards a woman.

There's no audio in the video, but the complaint alleges Schimke became upset at the woman and began to harass her, and another man tried to defend the woman. Within seconds Schimke charged the guy, got on top of him and allegedly started grabbing the man's neck.

From the video, you can see the detective on top of the man but you can't tell if he's choking him or not.

“The charges, I believe, were appropriate given the thought patterns,” said District Attorney Scott Blader.
In the video it looks as though the woman tried to break up the fight, but the detective didn't pay attention, until his own son eventually came over to break things up.

Police eventually responded to the bar but Detective Schimke and his 13-year-old son were long gone.

“The charges are based by the statements made by witnesses and as well as some of video evidence that exist from tape,” said Blader.

The victim did not want to talk on camera. Detective Schimke is on administrative duty as both the criminal and internal investigations play out.