Armored vehicle sent to collect
civil fine from 75-year-old in small town
A small Wisconsin town sends 24
armed officers and an armored vehicle to collect fine stemming from property
dispute.
STETTIN, Wis., Oct. 26 (UPI) --
A small Wisconsin town sent an armored vehicle and 24 armed officers to collect
a civil fine from a 75-year-old man.
Roger Hoeppner is filing a
federal civil rights lawsuit after authorities came out in force to collect an
$80,000 civil fine stemming from property disputes.
Marathon County Sheriff's Capt.
Greg Bean says the armored vehicle was only sent to the property because
Hoeppner initially refused to come out of his house.
"I've been involved in
about five standoff situations where, as soon as the MARV [Marathon County
Response Vehicle] showed up, the person gives up," Bean told the
Milwaukee-Wisconson Journal Sentinel. "People may not always understand
why, but an armored vehicle is almost a necessity now."
Hoeppner was arrested at the
scene, reportedly for not following officer's instructions. He paid his $80,000
fine, after a trip to the bank accompanied by deputies, and was released.
The long-running dispute is
centered on Hoeppner's 20-acre property, where he restores antique tractors and
runs a pallet repair business. The Town of Stettin sued Hoeppner in 2008 over
alleged zoning violations and rubbish, signs and vehicles on the property. The
two sides settled, with Hoeppner agreeing to clean up his property.
In 2010 the town decided Hoeppner
had not complied, and a judge ordered Hoeppner to clear his land. In May 2011,
the judge authorized the seizure of Hoeppner's assets for noncompliance. The
town did haul away a number of items including trailers and pallets and
auctioned them off.
In April 2013, the judge
decided Hoeppner was still noncompliant and imposed a $500-a-day fine in
addition to granting the town's legal fees. Hoeppner appealed the decision and
lost, leaving him $80,000 in debt to the town.
"Rather than provide Mr.
Hoeppner or his counsel notice...and attempt to collect without spending
thousands of taxpayer dollars on the military-style maneuvers, the town
unilaterally decided to enforce its civil judgment," Hoeppner's attorney,
Ryan Lister, said.
Hoeppner says that in all, his
battle with the town has cost him his retirement fund, some $200,000.
In a federal civil rights suit,
Hoeppner alleges Town Chairman Matt Wasmundt infringed on his free speech
rights by preventing him from addressing the board during public comment
periods, and once having him arrested and released without charge.
