MOUNT PLEASANT

Man apparently upset over lost nose ring charged with injuring 2-year-old

The driver in a June 20 crash at Sanders Park that left a 2-year-old girl with serious injuries has been charged with eight felonies for his alleged actions.

James Evan Walker, 34, of Racine, is charged with seven counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and one count of great bodily injury by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle. If convicted he could face up to $200,000 in fines and 100 years imprisonment.

According to court records:

Police responded to Sanders Park, 4809 Wood Road, about 5 p.m. June 20, for a report of a vehicle that had collided with a tree. There was extensive damage to the car, and several people were lying on the ground in the area.

There was blood inside the car, the airbag had deployed and the windshield was smashed. A 2-year-old girl was bleeding from the face and appeared to be in a daze.

Walker was identified as the driver. He had one front-seat passenger and four people - including the 2-year-old girl - were in the back seat. No one was wearing a seat belt, and the girl was not in a car seat.

Witnesses walking on a path said they heard the car accelerate, and jumped into the woods to avoid being struck as it came toward them. The car turned away and struck a tree.

The 2-year-old girl was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center and immediately transported to Children's Hospital in Wauwatosa via helicopter due to the seriousness of her injuries.

Passengers in the car said Walker was upset about his hair clippers and losing his nose ring and did not appear to care what happened. They said he ignored their pleas to slow down and stop. He was also injured in the crash: he required a neck collar and splints on his wrist and one leg. Evidentiary blood samples were taken at St. Mary's Medical Center.

Walker reportedly told police he had been drinking and had bent down to grab a CD when he saw the people walking and swerved to miss them.

RACINE

Police recover stolen guns

Police have recovered two guns stolen from a Lombard Avenue home on July 3.

Alfonzo B. Moore, 18, of Racine, is charged with receiving stolen property. If convicted he could face up to $10,000 in fines and nine months imprisonment.

According to court records:

A confidential informant told police Wednesday afternoon that Moore, a gang member, had a gun in a car. Police stopped the car and talked with the driver and passenger. The driver, a woman, said she had discovered the weapon in a dresser drawer shortly after July 4. She said she asked Moore about the weapon and he said he bought the guns from another man.

When police questioned Moore, he reportedly said he purchased two guns for protection from south-side gang members. He said the weapons were not stolen and that they should be clean.

He said he fired the guns into the air to make sure they worked, but other than that he had not fired the weapons. Moore and the woman gave police permission to search, and officers found a Ruger semi-automatic .22 caliber handgun in the living room and a Ruger semi-automatic 9 mm handgun in the bedroom.

Serial numbers on the guns matched those of the weapons taken from the Lombard Avenue home.