February 6, 2015 at 3:03 p.m.
Bar fight leads to charges for two men living in the U.S. illegally
Bar fight leads to charges for two men living in the U.S. illegally
According to a police department press release, officers responded to a report of a fight at BBT's Tavern at approximately 1:22 a.m. Jan. 20.
According to the release, officers determined that the alleged victim, a 54-year-old Eagle River man, had gotten into a fight with four men described in the press release as Hispanic. During the fight, the alleged victim was struck in the face by one of the men while another is alleged to have pointed a handgun at him.
The four men fled the bar before police arrived, running a short distance before getting into a vehicle. Witnesses provided officers with a description of the vehicle. Due to fresh snow, authorities were able to follow its tire tracks to a residence on Walnut Street.
With the assistance of the Vilas County Sheriff's Office, officers made contact with the men in the residence. According to the press release, after obtaining consent to search the residence, officers found a .45 caliber handgun that matches the firearm witnesses allegedly saw during the fight.
Alex Vazquez-Jimenez, 31, of Mexico, and Gerardo A. Cartagena, 26, of El Salvador, were arrested and transported to the Vilas County Jail. According to the press release, authorities later determined that both men, along with the others involved in the fight, are in the country illegally.
Officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Cartagena has ties to the Surenos 13 gang in El Salvador and had previously been deported from the U.S., the release states.
Both men made their initial appearances Jan. 20 before Judge Timothy Vocke. Cartagena is charged with carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a handgun where alcohol is sold or consumed and intentionally pointing a firearm at a person, all class A misdemeanors. Vazquez-Jimenez is charged with misdemeanor battery. Bail was set at $10,000 cash for each defendant.
Two days later, Circuit Court Judge Neal Nielsen increased bond to $100,000 for both men. ICE has filed immigration detainers on both defendants, according to the press release. The U.S. Attorney's Office is working to file federal immigration and criminal charges against both men, the release states.
The two are expected back in court Feb. 10 for pretrial conferences.
Jamie Taylor may be reached at [email protected].
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