Man took ride from deputy with drugs in his pockets

A 64-year-old Fredonia man who was recently released from prison is back behind bars after accepting a sheriff’s deputy’s offer of a ride home with cocaine in his pocket, according to a criminal complaint filed in Ozaukee County Circuit Court.

Lawrence L. Sieracki, who pleaded guilty to fleeing an officer and second-degree recklessly endangering safety in 2024, is now charged with the second or subsequent offense of possession of cocaine, a felony, and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sieracki was arrested Friday, June 5, after Ozaukee County sheriff’s deputy Wade Thompson was dispatched to the Fredonia home of Sieracki’s ex-wife, who called authorities because she wanted him removed from her property.

Thompson arrived at the home to find Sieracki in the garage gathering items. The deputy was aware that Sieracki was recently released from incarceration, was currently on extended supervision and was living at a campground in the Fredonia area.

Sieracki said he was gathering items to take back to his camper, and his ex-wife said she allowed him to come over to her house to take a shower. But, she added, she was working from home and was not able to supervise him and had repeatedly asked him to leave, according to the complaint.

Sieracki apparently agreed to leave, but Thompson told him he couldn’t drive himself back to the campground because his driver’s license had been revoked and offered him a ride.

Sieracki accepted, which is when Thompson told him he would have to be searched before getting into his patrol vehicle. When asked by the deputy if he had any prohibited items, Sieracki said no and assumed a search stance, the complaint states.

In one of the pockets of Sieracki’s shorts, Thompson found a charred glass pipe like those that are used to smoke cocaine and a Chore Boy scrubber, which can be used as a cocaine pipe filter, wrapped in paper towel, according to the complaint.

Also wrapped in the towel was a small bag of a white rock-like substance similar to the substance found in Sieracki’s other pocket. Both substances tested positive for cocaine, the complaint states.

Sieracki was arrested and is being held in the county jail in lieu of $2,000 bail.

The last time he was arrested was June 2, 2023, when his then-estranged wife called police to report that Sieracki was trying to run her over with her car outside a Saukville bank.

She told an officer that she and Sieracki  were going through a divorce and he demanded she give him the key to the car, which she did. He then started the car and drove toward her as she called police. The woman said she had to jump out of the way to avoid being run over, according to the complaint filed in that case.

Sieracki drove away but was spotted a short time later by an officer, who saw him go through a red light as he turned to head east on Green Bay Avenue.

The officer pulled Sieracki over on the I-43 on ramp. He was highly agitated and said he was going to drive away, so officers put tire spikes in front of his car.

Sieracki then said he wasn’t going anywhere, but he refused to get out of the car. When an officer tried to open the driver’s door, Sieracki closed it, then drove over the spikes and fled south on I-43.

An officer chased Sieracki but lost sight of his car in Mequon. The vehicle was then spotted in a ditch and an officer saw him get out of the car, jump a fence and run to the west. He was chased down and arrested.

During a Feb. 3, 2024, hearing, Sieracki pleaded guilty to two felonies and was sentenced by Ozaukee County Circuit Judge Steve Cain to three years in prison and three years of extended supervision. Cain, however, made him eligible for earned release after serving two years, which means that he had the opportunity to get out of prison early.

Sieracki also pleaded guilty to possession of narcotic drugs in May 2021. Cain withheld a prison sentence and placed him on probation for three years, although his probation was revoked in 2023 and he was sentenced to 90 days in the county jail.

Because of his previous convictions, Sieracki is now charged as a repeat offender, which means he would face enhanced penalties if convicted.