MADISON, Wis. – Upon review of the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) investigative file, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne has determined that the incident involving the death of Mr. Rodney J. Freeman Jr. does not constitute an Officer Involved Death per Wis. Stat. § 175.47(1)(c) and that there is no criminal liability by Monona Police Department Officers or any other law enforcement officer in the death of Rodney J. Freeman Jr. Mr. Freeman Jr. was discovered deceased in a retention pond in the 500 block of River Place on Monday, June 29, 2020.
The Monona Police Department requested that DCI investigate Mr. Freeman Jr.’s death after an incident in their city on Saturday, June 27, 2020, in which a vehicle drove by law enforcement at a high rate of speed and crashed into trees a short time later. Officers observed at least one individual running from the vehicle crash scene. K9 tracking and searching of the area was unsuccessful in locating anyone who had fled the vehicle crash scene. Information obtained during the investigation revealed that Mr. Freeman had been an occupant of the vehicle at the time of the crash; however, his death was not the result of any action or inaction on the part of the Monona Police Department Officers or any other law enforcement officer.
The investigative file has been posted to the Wisconsin Department of Justice website:
