22nd Sep 2011 at 21:12 | By Brian Sikma
“Segway Boy” Protester Habitual Lawbreaker
By: Brian Sikma
Jeremy Ryan is a habitual loser, or, to borrow a phrase from state Senator Glen Grothman, a slob. Ryan is known around Madison as the “Segway Boy” after his distinct mode of transportation that has made him nearly ubiquitous in the professional protest circuit of the city. Chances are, if you visited the state capitol at all since the protests were at their height this past spring, you’ve seen Ryan riding a Segway around the downtown area, or getting hauled out of the Senate or Assembly galleries after violating gallery rules with his antics.
Liberal Protester Jeremy Ryan
Ryan’s public record as a protester has been well documented. Many of his protests have landed him citations from the police because he broke various ordinances, rules and laws related to public disturbances and public conduct. According to a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel article in June, Ryan had received 15 citations and been arrested nine times in conjunction with his protesting. The 15 citations had, as of June, racked up a total of $3,604.50 in fines – not a penny of which Ryan seems to be intent on paying.
As a professional, full-time protestor Ryan has no income from a job. What little money he does seem able to scrape up through donations apparently goes to pay for medication that he needs to manage several health issues as well as fund his political action committee, Defending Wisconsin PAC. The PAC does not pay Ryan for his work as executive director. GAB documents show that the committee has raised $8,305.90, and had $4,452.08 still in the bank as of its latest report. Perhaps if Ryan collected a one-time salary from his PAC he could be responsible and pay his outstanding fines.
The state of Ryan’s personal finances can be determined on almost any given day by the pleas for money that he issues on his personal Facebook page. Interspersed between requests for people to help him land speaking engagements are updates about his financial status. His requests tend to generate responses from sympathetic friends and supporters who indicate that they have contributed to his bank account through a handy web portal that he set up.
Court records show that Jeremy Ryan’s financial and legal troubles didn’t start around the time of the spring protests. They started back in 2007 (around the time he would have been 18 or 19), with an eviction battle that he and his apparent then-girlfriend, Tatiana Castaneda, lost. They were evicted because of over $5,000 in unpaid rent. A mere five months later they lost another eviction battle because of over $4,200 in unpaid rent. Not long after the second eviction, Wisconsin Power and Light went after Ryan for his accumulated unpaid electric bill. Ryan was ordered to pay Wisconsin Power and Light $688.83 over a year after the suit was filed.
"Segway Boy"
Another case, this time in July of 2009, involved a domestic dispute and temporary restraining order for Ryan. The plantiff’s name is not part of the available record, but another case dating from a month and a half later in August of 2009 documents a paternity dispute between Ryan and his ex-girlfriend, who was also his co-defendant in the eviction cases.
The final non-protest related case in Ryan’s history is a claim brought against him on November 17, 2010 by the company that owns Rocky Rococo, a regional pizza and pasta restaurant chain. The case settled with Ryan owing the company $617.13. Whether the money was owed for pizza and pasta purchased or something else is not clear.
In a recent story in the Madison State-Journal, the deputy district attorney of Dane County, Chris Freeman, cited “limited resources” when asked why the Dane County District Attorney’s office was not pursuing charges against some of the more outrageous and misbehaved protesters. It is understandable that not every protester who may accidentally violate a minor noise ordinance would be subject to prosecution. But some, like Miles Kristin (who poured beer on GOP lawmakers), and Jeremy Ryan, are habitual and knowing lawbreakers. Their inability to be responsible in other areas of life leaves them with fewer excuses to justify their wrong behavior.
If Mr. Freeman, and his boss District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, are serious about wisely using limited resources, they will enforce the law on habitual lawbreakers like Ryan, Kristin and others. Their job is to enforce the law and keep the public safe. Excusing the actions of irresponsible protesters isn’t a wise use of limited resources: it is a tacit endorsement of illegal behavior and an abdication of the responsibilities of the office of District Attorney.
Related Articles | You may also like
-
African American Joblessness Skyrockets 150% with Barrett as Mayor
-
EXCLUSIVE: Tom Barrett’s Wife Used MPS Email To Lobby, Enlist Campaign Help
-
Barrett Turns To Veteran National Strategist To Run Campaign
-
Liberal Madison Radio Host, Big Labor Allege Barrett Nixed Unity Rally
-
Dem Group Launders Money to Veil Source of Negative Ad
-
EXCLUSIVE: Big Labor Pours $7 Mil. Into Recall, Likely to Exceed 2011 Spending
Discussion | 29 Comments on "“Segway Boy” Protester Habitual Lawbreaker"
Leave a Comment
Your reply will be added to the comment above (Below any other replies to this comment) -
Steve Walsh said
Sep 22, 2011 at 9:43 PM
Nothing says democracy like personally attacking and going after those who disagree with you politically! Seriously, you would not care about this guy’s legal troubles if you weren’t a WI Republican shill. How much do the Koch brothers pay you?
Eric said
Sep 22, 2011 at 10:00 PM
“Nothing says democracy like personally attacking and going after those who disagree with you politically!”
It’s sad how true you are about the state of civil discourse in this day and age, though I suspect you weren’t commenting on our vitriolic political climate.
I find it interesting that in decrying an article you view to be a personal attack, you launched into a personal attack of your own.
Those on both sides with the capability for their voices to be amplified (Media, Politicians, etc) should be using that privilege to discuss the issues themselves instead of launching into pointless ad hominem attacks.
Mark said
Sep 23, 2011 at 12:09 PM
Steve:
Wow, sad state of affairs when you actually DEFEND this loser. He is a major-league moocher, and EVEN has been called out by Zach at Blogging Blue.
And are his past transgressions pertinent to this story? Absolutely. He is not only a loser, but a habitual loser. For you to defend him by calling out the source just shows that you really have no argument.
Warner Saunders, Jr. said
Sep 27, 2011 at 1:21 AM
Steve,
It’s pretty easy to follow the paper trail of Segway Boy’s transgressions. Just go on CCAP and type up his name and you will get his ultra long rap sheet in seconds.
Besides, how does someone get sued by a pizza company?
Clemster said
Sep 22, 2011 at 11:31 PM
Steve and Eric. What kind of morons are you? Segway guy has proved to be a loser at least since 2007. How is it possible that all of a sudden he is a hero to the liberals? Have you not been keeping up with the latest statements from Dems? They state that all of the remaining protestors are an embarrassment to the liberal causes they espouse. Who can take seriously anyone who is unemployed and sings at the capitol each day? The very idea of public disturbance is anathema to thinking Americans. I live in Waukesha. Each day the police blotter shows people arrested for public disturbance and public drunkenness. These same disruptions are tolerated in Madison. What is wrong with you people?
Eric said
Sep 22, 2011 at 11:39 PM
His employment status is irrelevant and as far as I’m concerned, his past convictions appear to be irrelevant to this story as well. I AM concerned about the CURRENT state of his unpaid citations. It continues the pattern that I see with activists that laws shouldn’t affect them if they think they’re unjust.
That’s not how it works. If you don’t like the laws, you go through the infrastructure we have set up to try to correct them. If you decide to break the laws, you should repay the requested consequences for your transgressions.
Whether you’re a ‘loser’, a government official or a police chief, if the existing laws aren’t properly enforced, then people don’t take those laws seriously and it encourages more disorder. This is what appears to be happening in Madison right now, and this is what concerns me the most in regards to the point this story was attempting to make.
lauren said
Sep 23, 2011 at 3:24 PM
Sadly Eric, you have now placed yourself in a gray area, because I have now viewed you as part of the ‘lower level thinkers’ Just as you have your opinion, I too have mine. I worry about your type of thinking because you are probably someone who believes child molesters have rights. You probably don’t believe child molesters have a problem in their brain function ( in layman terms, “A SCREW LOOSE), which means you lack the capacity to intelligently comprehend bad behaviors are simply ‘bad’ for whatever reason. You seem to react from a position of natural rebellion, which we all have to some degree, but to simply rise up in ‘defense mode’ with little thought is not a sign of using your head. The ‘Segway-Idiot’, which I do view as an idiot, is anything but a decent member of society. his credibility, & reputation speaks for itself. Why on earth would you defend him? For just one minute, open your mind and look at this from a different angle: If the segway idiot was publicly harassing a gay man because he didn’t agree with the gay mans choices or decisions,he would be criticized and screamed at for his bias. Would you defend him? No, you would not! It is the same principal in this case, but you have taken a ‘side’, whether you are aware of it or not. You promote this type of radical/lselective thinking. You, by your choice of words have given the impression now, that you too are a liberal maniac, and it is this extreme thinking that sets you in a category of ‘low level thinkers’. You have blinders on. You are quick to react emotionally, rather to use your logic, and think before you strike. Bottom line is, people have no right to harass anyone with rude, disrespectful, or malicious behavior period. That is what keeps us civil—-it separates us from animals–
Apt said
Sep 23, 2011 at 12:23 PM
I love how ignorant lefties always fall back on “Koch Brothers” for their safety net.
Ann said
Sep 23, 2011 at 2:47 PM
All the while the left is courting the Koch brothers for campaign money!
Eric said
Sep 23, 2011 at 7:46 PM
Wow. I’m afraid you have me slightly off-balance as I’ve never been accused of being ‘too liberal’ before. A handful of my conservative leanings: I voted for Walker in November. I will vote to remove Sen. Carpenter if his recall reaches my door. I can’t stand the line of thought that the Unions speak for every worker, especially when I was forced to join a union to accept a promotion a few years back.
You also seem to be misinterpreting my statements as a defense of Mr. Ryan. Quite the opposite, actually. As I said, he should be held accountable for the crimes he’s committed. I simply stated that his past convictions were irrelevant to his present convictions… Unless those fines that he’s been assessed in the past are unpaid as well.
You’ve accused me of precisely the opposite of what I was attempting to convey in my statement. Labelling me with ‘extreme thinking’ when I was attempting to display lawful pragmatism. With a liberal bias when I was voicing conservatism in judgement. That I sided with Mr. Ryan when my statement was not only that he should be held accountable, but that those complicit in allowing him to evade accountability (lax police concern) were every bit as guilty in allowing this climate to continue.
I am a pragmatist. I do not believe that extremism can fight extremism and win anything but the ruination of the battlefield. I most definitely agree with your ‘bottom line’ that people have no right to harass anyone with disrespectful behaviour and that civility is a lost art in today’s conversation. My statement was an attempt to do just that. To strip away the name-calling and irrelevant details to focus on the fact that Mr. Ryan’s current infractions have gone basically unpunished. This is a failure of the local law enforcement, and should be a cause of concern.
Eric said
Sep 23, 2011 at 7:47 PM
Hit the wrong ‘Reply’ button, I’m afraid.
This was directed at Lauren’s post.
Piobaireachd said
Sep 23, 2011 at 12:39 PM
This is another good reason for the concealed carry bill. Perhaps a citizen will shoot this waste of skin.
Patrick said
Sep 23, 2011 at 3:17 PM
this is the problem. shooting this guy isn’t going to solve the problem. Though I will disagree with his methods, and think that it is entirely wrong that he has not been prosecuted for any of these outstanding violations. Advocating violence really isn’t that good of an idea.
Anony said
Sep 23, 2011 at 4:08 PM
Another tea party member…. Well, I did formally report your post to the police, let’s see if they do anything to you…
lauren said
Sep 24, 2011 at 2:52 PM
Steve I do apologize for my reply being directed at you, it was meant for Steve actually re: his comment ‘republican shill’. I am issuing my formal PUBLIC APOLOGY TO ERIC!
Glad we seem more mutual on our views. As long as I’m on here, I will mention I see that exact extreme thinking coming from Pioaireachd, his statement re; concealed carry. Here is a good example of that extreme behavior swinging the opposite direction. So it does flow both ways , from both sides of the fence. Yes, civility seems to be less and less a natural basis within in society. What are we going to do with all these people reacting from their emotional webs with little respect, much less concern, that it’s just chipping away our society on the whole. I don’t understand why people aren’t more passionate about preventing that. Pretty soon we’re all going to be more like wild dogs! I bet cave men were more civilized. Complicated creatures we are, and apparently ignorance is rampant. I agree also with you, that infractions are infractions, all to be treated in accordance, not selective as to who and why, but fairly all across the board.
Ann said
Sep 23, 2011 at 2:45 PM
I see quality written all over him!
Fred said
Sep 23, 2011 at 8:44 PM
Everyone ignored the most outrageous part of this story. “In a recent story in the Madison State-Journal, the deputy district attorney of Dane County, Chris Freeman, cited “limited resources” when asked why the Dane County District Attorney’s office was not pursuing charges against some of the more outrageous and misbehaved protesters.”
Does anyone really believe that? Let’s just say we had a TEA party activist that behaved so badly in Madison as to have 15 citations (I know it is a ridiculous example, TEA party activists are polite and pick up their trash). Does anyone really think that Ismael Ozanne would sweep that under the rug and blame it on a lack of resources?
Madison law enforcement has been criminally negligent in their coddling of left-wing rabble rousers.
Dudley Doright said
Sep 24, 2011 at 10:47 AM
Eric,
Jeremy Ryan has over $15,000 of unpaid judgments from the prior cases referred to in the story. Just check CCAP for yourself and then correct your post!
http://wcca.wicourts.gov/pager.do;jsessionid=B1E2587011B0B09D422EAD6BAA69A1F1.render6?cacheId=FF5AD7F4DCABFE596258222D2806852B&offset=0&sortColumn=0&sortDirection=DESC
Dudley Doright said
Sep 24, 2011 at 10:51 AM
This is the comment by Eric from a previous post: that I responded to above:
“You also seem to be misinterpreting my statements as a defense of Mr. Ryan. Quite the opposite, actually. As I said, he should be held accountable for the crimes he’s committed. I simply stated that his past convictions were irrelevant to his present convictions… Unless those fines that he’s been assessed in the past are unpaid as well.”
R K Jossart said
Sep 27, 2011 at 5:36 AM
Law enforcement should be just that “enforcement” Jail is where these people belong.
Harvey Blaine said
Sep 27, 2011 at 2:11 PM
It is very obvious to see that Jeremy Ryan suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder. He feeds his ego with the praise from his sycophantic following. This avid following doesn’t even realize that Ryan wouldn’t give them the time of day if he didn’t get something out of it himself.
I’m surprised this article didn’t mention the fact of his charge of “harassment” over the telephone and his hilarious email online crying about how his mean mother took away his phone privileges and he considered it to be child abuse.
Face the facts. Your Segway-riding pal is a deadbeat who only cares about himself at all costs.
MilwaukeeJoe said
Sep 27, 2011 at 4:26 PM
Hey ladies…sounds like this gem is single!
This is what you do when you don’t want to work. However it sounds like the guy doesn’t have any skills to offer society anyhow. I guess all that protesting is supposed to give his life some sort of meaning or something. It doesn’t.
John said
Sep 29, 2011 at 8:35 PM
This is what liberals call ‘success’! Not self-sufficiency by having a job and paying your bills, but forgoing all that ‘nonsense’, accumulating all sorts of debt, defying court-ordered payments on those debts, and doing nothing but complaining and getting attention and notoriety for it. Just wondering who bought the Segway? Who pays for his food, clothing, cellphone, computer? Does he claim an income from anywhere? Is he receiving government assistance?
Hunter said
Oct 9, 2011 at 5:36 PM
@John and @Fred: I find it funny that you are going to insult all liberals for the actions of a few idiots but if I were to call you, as you sound like a conservative, a gun-toting, illeterate, crossbred hillbilly, then you would say I was being bigoted and rude.
Just because you disagree with ideals, please keep it classy. If you don’t all you do is make your beliefs look like the stupid ones. Just like this segway boy is doing. I am, for the most part, liberal but I do have conservative leanings for very few social policies and about half of the economic ones. I am sure you also have some areas where you have liberal leanings.
To say that anyone is entirely conservative or entirely liberal just means that they are agreeing with that side’s ideals completely because they think it makes them look “cool” rather than thinking for themselves. If you want examples of Tea Party protestors with criminal records, just google it. You will get just as many Tea Party nutjobs as liberal nutjobs.
Look at things objectively and you will get farther and more will be accomplished. Whining about the “bad guys” of politics just makes you look foolish and accomplishes absolutely nothing.
ssquared said
Oct 14, 2011 at 12:15 AM
Jeremy Ryan needs to be traded to Cuber or a less useless ahole to be named later.
This guy mignt as well be black and a seventh generation welfare recipient.