Recall Complaints Escalate in Brookfield, But Police Cite No One

Supporters and opponents of the recall Gov. Scott Walker effort verbally sparred outside , and a woman complained a man was harassing petition signers by taking their photographs outside Brookfield Square mall.

Police received at least 10 calls related to recall activities in the past week, on top of the half-dozen calls they responded to .

Some complained to police that petition supporters were blocking entrances to the or upsetting business or restaurant patrons. Brookfield Ald. Jerry Mellone tried but failed to persuade police officers that anti-Walker organizers were violating city ordinances.

Again, no arrests were made or citations issued. Police said demonstrators were complying with the city's rules on picketing and staying on public sidewalks or parking lanes.

According to police reports:

• A woman told police Sunday that a man was taking pictures of all the drivers stopping at Brookfield Square mall to sign petitions to recall the governor. She said when she signed a petition there Saturday afternoon, a man in a dark Mazda pulled up, told her "say hi" and took her photo. The next day, she returned to the mall and said the same man again took her photo and told her he recognized her from Saturday. He said nothing else and drove off. Police told her that he was not violating any laws.
• They also told callers that petition organizers were not breaking the law as they stood on sidewalks and encouraged passing cars to stop if there was enough room on the road to pull over or they pulled into lots to sign petitions. Police reported no traffic hazards occurring on westbound Capitol Drive across from about noon Sunday as recall supporters carrying signs had cars stop to ink petitions.
• Mellone contacted police Friday afternoon and Saturday morning to argue recall activists were breaking city ordinances and should be cited outside Brookfield Square mall and , 12345 W. Capitol Dr. in Wauwatosa at the Brookfield border. Police disagreed.
• Officers received several calls about 1 p.m. Friday about activity near that Qdoba. Boulder Venture Property Management said it was getting "numerous calls" from tenants, saying verbal fights were breaking out between anti- and pro-recall people and they should be removed "before things escalate." One "very upset" restaurant patron said the signers were on the sidewalk but their cars were parked in the private restaurant lot. Police said the business should post signs saying parking for patrons only. Officers advised recall supporters of the complaints and they agreed to leave.
• One woman called police twice to complain that petition supporters were causing traffic hazards — outside the mall at Blue Mound Road and Main Street about 4:15 p.m. Thursday and on Capitol Drive near Qdoba about 12:45 p.m. Friday. Officers found no hazards.
• Petition activity on Washington Drive near the Capitol Drive off-ramp drew three complaints Wednesday afternoon about traffic hazards. Police monitored the area for 20 minutes and said the road was wide enough for motorists to pull over to the side without causing a hazard. Recall supporters were told about applicable ordinances and "were conforming."
• Someone walked into the police station to say recall volunteers were blocking the doors to the about 12:54 p.m. Wednesday. But library and police officials said recall organizers were standing on the sidewalk in front of the library and not causing problems. A person opposed to recalling Gov. Scott Walker was urging people to not sign the petition.