A Kenosha Police officer who was served with divorce papers New Year's Eve allegedly punched out the man his estranged wife had been seeing a few hours later, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday.
To make matters worse, 29 year-old Kendal West was on duty at the time, and the man he struck was the only emergency room physician assigned for the evening at Kenosha Hospital and Medical Center.
The incident began at a Kenosha bar where West's wife had gone with others to celebrate the new year. The gathering apparently turned icy when West--in uniform--showed up for a few moments. At some point during the evening, the woman phoned the ER doc to say she'd like to stop by the hospital to say hello. The 38 year-old doctor met the woman on the east side of the building.
Seconds later, according to the complaint, West pulled up in his squad car, got out and charged toward the couple. The physician purportedly cautioned West to remember his job, but West reportedly said, "You son-of-a-bitch," and then punched him "2-3" times in the head, causing his glasses to fall off.
According to the complaint, West then returned to his squad. Aiming at the doctor who'd been standing by the woman's car, West accelerated, swerving at the last second to barely avoid hitting him.
The episode was reportedly caught by a security camera.
West, who'd been held in the Racine County Jail since the incident, was escorted Tuesday into a Kenosha courtroom, where a signature bond was set.
West's attorney, former Kenosha police officer Loren Keating, said that his client's wife was present in the gallery for Tuesday's proceeding and declined an offer to have a 'no contact' order issued against her husband. "By way of employment, he (West) knows what's at stake. There will not be any recidivism."
West is facing a felony charge of misconduct in public office, and two misdemeanors, battery and disorderly conduct with use of a dangerous weapon.
The three-year department veteran was placed on administrative leave shortly after his Sunday morning arrest.
The investigation that led to the charges was conducted by the Racine County Sheriff's Dept. A separate internal investigation is underway.
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