A confrontation between two men over a woman leads to charges against both men — and not the woman.
A Brookfield man secretly followed a woman who lives with him, catching her meeting up with a Hartland man who displayed a handgun when the Brookfield man intervened, according to a criminal complaint.
William E. Ahrens, 51, of Brookfield was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Tuesday with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, and Thomas M. Reifschlager, 57, of Hartland, was charged with misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon. If convicted, Ahrens faces up to 90 days in jail and $1,000 in fines, while Reifschlager faces up to nine months in jail and $10,000 in fines.
According to the criminal complaint:
On Aug. 31, a woman living with Ahrens in the 400 block of Meadow View West took Ahrens' car and told him she was going to Madison to see her daughter. But she actually had planned to meet Reifschlager, the complaint says. Ahrens thought something was afoot, so he decided to drive his mother's car and follow the woman.
The woman realized Ahrens was following her, so she pulled over in the 400 block of Hartwood Lane in Hartland, got out of the car and tried to hide behind some trees, the complaint alleges. She then called Reifschlager to pick her up, and he decided to bring his handgun along.
When Reifschlager arrived, Ahrens confronted him. Reifschlager remained in a vehicle and locked all the doors, telling police that Ahrens tried to get in the car, according to the complaint.
Ahrens said Reifschlager then put his hand on his gun, so Ahrens walked away and called police, the complaint says. All three were arrested at the scene.
Ahrens and Reifschlager will make their first court appearance Oct. 22.
