Sept. 27, 2024 10:45a
From the Racine County Sheriff's Dept.:
Upon the Racine County Communications Center receiving an automated bomb threat, Sheriff’s investigators immediately started their attempts to identify the perpetrator. Using open source intelligence gathering tools, the investigators identified that the telephone number came back to High River in Alberta, Canada. The investigators contacted the High River Police Department which had no in house records of the phone number.
Utilizing additional resources, the investigators were able to identify that the telephone number was associated with an internet company that sells telephone numbers to third party companies all over the world. While working with the York Regional Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the US Department of Justice, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation, the investigators were able to able to identify that the telephone number most recently originated from a specific company which provides an app that sells telephone numbers that are supposed to be difficult to trace.
Through additional efforts, the investigators were able to identify the subscriber information for the location where the telephone number was purchased, which was within the City of Racine. The investigators examined the history of the residence, developed a suspect, considered a motive, and obtained a search warrant. The suspect was identified as Devone A. Kessler, a 29-year-old male from the City of Racine. When investigators checked Kessler’s criminal history, it showed that he is a registered sex offender on felony extended supervision (parole).
On September 26, 2024, a team of Sheriff’s investigators executed a search warrant in the 2800 block of Douglas Ave., while a second team of Sheriff’s investigators contacted Kessler at his work and placed him under arrest. The investigators transported Kessler to the Law Enforcement Center and performed an interview. The investigators were able to obtain a full confession from Kessler.
The investigators brought Kessler to the Racine County Jail where he is being held on a $10,000 cash bail for the following offenses:
- Terrorist Threats
- Bomb Scare
The investigators forwarded charging recommendations to the Racine County District Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution.
Sheriff Schmaling stated, “While there has been a rash of false threats to government buildings recently, the Sheriff’s Office took every precaution necessary to ensure public safety when dispatch received a bomb threat. At the same time, our investigators used all their training, experience, and equipment to work with our partners in law enforcement – both in the United States and Canada – to hunt down anyone responsible for these crimes. The investigators also worked with private international companies to put the pieces together to identify the suspect. Ultimately, the investigators obtained a confession which strengthened an already strong case. I commend all members of the Sheriff’s Office for their professional response to this terroristic act. I could not be prouder – job well done!”
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On today’s date, September 23, 2024, the Racine County Communication Center received a 911 call from an automated voice making a bomb threat to various governmental buildings in Racine County.
Out of an abundance of caution, Racine County closed the Courthouse and the Law enforcement Center, and all citizens and non-essential personnel were evacuated. Law enforcement officers and explosive K9 teams are continuing to sweep the buildings with negative results.
There are no known future threats to the public, and all County buildings and agencies are expected to resume normal functions and hours of operation tomorrow. The Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Bureau is actively investigating this incident.
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