Officer Breaks Ankle During Combative Arrest at Waukesha Library, Complaint Says

A Sussex man who was banned from the Waukesha Public Library is accused of breaking a Waukesha police officer’s ankle when officer’s tried to remove him from the building.

David W. Bledsoe, 23, was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court on Thursday with resisting an officer-causing injury and disorderly conduct. If convicted, he face up  to 3-1/4 years in prison and $11,000 in fines.

Bledsoe remains jailed in lieu of $1,500 bail.

Waukesha police were called to the library shortly before 8 p.m. Aug. 7 to remove Bledsoe from the library. Bledsoe was sleeping in the library earlier but was told to leave as it appeared he was under the influence of drugs, according to the criminal complaint. Bledsoe started yelling and swearing when he was told he couldn’t return to the library.

However, Bledsoe was found later that day reading a book while laying on the carpeting between two book shelves, the complaint states. Officers were called then to remove him from the library.

The officers confronted Bledsoe, the complaint states, and he told them he thought it was fine to be at the library if he stayed away, that he needed WiFi and that he was tired of being labeled as an alcoholic.

When the officer told him he needed to leave, he said “(expletive) this, I’m out of here.” However, he lunged toward an officer, so police took him into custody, according to the complaint.

As officers arrested Bledsoe, he continued to struggle and fight to break free, according to the complaint. One officer heard a snap in his ankle as he tried to control Bledsoe. The officer was treated at Waukesha Memorial Hospital for a broken fibula near his right ankle.

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