Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee parents sue MPS saying staff member locked students in ‘dungeon’ as punishment
Children at Thurston Woods School in Milwaukee were locked in a boiler room as a punishment, a group of parents say in a recently filed lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed Dec. 8 in the Milwaukee County Circuit Court’s civil division by three sets of parents. The Milwaukee Board of School Directors is among the defendants.
The parents claim in court papers several employees at the K4-8 elementary school on North 35th Street sent kids to the boiler room if they misbehaved.
Some of those staff members, as well as students, referred to the boiler room as “The Dungeon,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims a former male paraprofessional at the school locked three students in a boiler room multiple times during the 2022-’23 and 2023-’24 school years.
In the lawsuit, the parents said the “dungeon” presented a serious hazard to the children because of the potential exposure to “chemicals, cleaning agents, boilers, and other machinery.”
The paraprofessional resigned in November 2023 after he was investigated for violating several school district policies. At the time, he told district officials he placed the students in the room as a scare tactic, the lawsuit states.
Among the defendants is former assistant principal Dennis Daniels.
He pleaded guilty in January to a misdemeanor charge of attempted misconduct in public office after failing to alert police that an 11-year-old student brought a gun to school in February 2024.
He initially was charged with a felony, but brokered a deal with prosecutors to instead plead to an amended lesser charge.
“Milwaukee Public Schools is committed to maintaining safe and welcoming learning environments for all students and staff,” Stephen Davis, an MPS spokesman, said in a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “While we cannot comment on ongoing litigation, the district thoroughly investigated this matter in 2023 and took appropriate disciplinary action which included termination of employment.”
In a statement, Milwaukee attorney Drew DeVinney, who represents the parents, described the alleged behavior of school staff as “disbursing and egregious,” and that it appeared no one intervened to stop it.
He urged other families to come forward if they also were impacted.
“Concerningly, MPS did not report any of these instances of seclusion and restraint to the Department of Public Instruction, in violation of Wisconsin law.
“We hope that this lawsuit will serve as a vehicle to prevent further incidents and abuse, and to obtain justice for our clients.”
Chris Ramirez covers courts for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at caramirez@gannett.com.
Scene near 107th and Wabash, Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee police are investigating two separate fatal shootings that occurred within hours of each other on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 4.
107th and Wabash
What we know:
The first shooting was reported around 2 p.m. near 107th and Wabash, according to the Milwaukee Police Department. A 40-year-old victim suffered gunshot wounds and later died from those injuries.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation, and police are continuing to search for a suspect or suspects.
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64th and Mill
What we know:
A second fatal shooting was reported around 3:40 p.m., near 64th and Mill. Police said a 53-year-old victim was shot and died from their injuries. A suspect is in custody and charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.
The shooting remains under active investigation.
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Authorities say the incidents are not related.
MPD tips
What you can do:
Anyone with information related to either shooting is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or via the P3 Tips app.
The Source: Anyone with any information is asked to contact the MPD at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or use the P3 Tips app.
The Sacramento Kings (8-27) will be trying to stop a four-game losing streak when hosting the Milwaukee Bucks (15-20) on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at Golden 1 Center. It airs at 9 p.m. ET on FDSWI and NBCS-CA.
The Bucks hit the court as 6.5-point favorites against the Kings. The over/under for the game is set at 228.5.
Bucks vs. Kings betting odds
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Sunday at 3:29 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
- Spread: Milwaukee -6.5
- Total: 228.5
- Moneyline: Milwaukee -244, Sacramento +200
Watch this game on Fubo!
Bucks at Kings odds, spread, & more
Prediction
- Pick ATS: Kings (+ 6.5)
- Pick OU:
Over (228.5) - Prediction:
Bucks 116 – Kings 115
Moneyline
- The Bucks have won 56.2% of the games this season when they were the moneyline favorite (9-7).
- Milwaukee has gone 3-3 when playing as a moneyline favorite with odds of -244 or shorter (winning 50%).
- The Bucks have an implied moneyline win probability of 70.9% in this matchup.
- This season, the Kings have been the underdog 32 times and won six, or 18.8%, of those games.
- This season, Sacramento has won five of its 20 games, or 25%, when it is the underdog by at least +200 on the moneyline.
- The implied probability of a win by the Kings based on the moneyline is 33.3%.
Against the spread
- The Bucks average 113.3 points per game, 9.2 fewer points than the 122.5 the Kings allow.
- Milwaukee has a 4-2 record against the spread and a 4-2 record overall when scoring more than 122.5 points.
- When it scores more than 116 points, Sacramento is 9-3 against the spread and 6-6 overall.
- Milwaukee’s record is 9-0 against the spread and 7-2 overall when it allows fewer than 110.6 points.
- The Bucks are at the 26th spot in the NBA’s scoring charts (113.3 PPG), while the Kings allow the 27th-fewest points per game (122.5) in the league.
- The 28th-ranked scoring NBA team (110.6 PPG) is Sacramento, while the Milwaukee squad ranks 14th in the league defensively (116 PPG).
- The Bucks have been out-scored by 96 points this season (2.7 points per game on average), and opponents of the Kings have out-scored them by 414 more points on the year (11.9 per game).
Over/Under
- Milwaukee’s average implied point total this season is 0.3 fewer points than its implied total in Sunday’s game (117.7 implied points on average compared to 118 implied points in this game).
- So far this season, Milwaukee has scored more than 118 points in 10 games.
- The average implied point total on the season for Sacramento (121) is 10 more points than the team’s implied total in this matchup (111).
How to watch Bucks vs. Kings
Watch this game on Fubo!
Crash investigation at 60th and Vliet
MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee man was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash at 60th and Vliet on Saturday morning.
What we know:
It happened at around 11:50 a.m. The Wauwatosa Police Department said investigators determined an SUV was headed west on Vliet Street when it ran a red light at a “high rate of speed,” collided with another vehicle and then hit a tree.
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A 71-year-old Milwaukee man, who was the driver and sole occupant of the SUV, died at the scene.
The Wauwatosa Fire Department, Milwaukee Fire Department and Milwaukee Police Department assisted with the crash response. At Vliet Street, 60th Street is the municipal boundary between Milwaukee and Wauwatosa.
What we don’t know:
Wauwatosa police said details of the crash remain under investigation. Police did not say whether anyone was in the other vehicle that was struck.
The Wisconsin State Patrol is assisting the Wauwatosa Police Department with the investigation.
The Source: FOX6 News went to the scene of the crash and received information from the Wauwatosa Police Department.
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