RACINE — A Confederate flag hanging in a Racine resident’s house reportedly led to a fight that ended with a man forcing his way into the home to tear it down.
The Racine Police Department responded to the 1300 block of Center Street on Friday afternoon. The caller said Tajaun Boatner, 37, of Racine, had confronted her at her house about a Confederate flag hanging in her window and eventually pushed her down, the complaint said.
In a later interview with the police, the resident said Boatner had politely asked her to take the flag out of her kitchen window, and she moved it to her bathroom window, the complaint said.
They both began yelling and the resident had called Boatner a racial slur, the complaint said. The argument ended after Boatner reportedly walked up her front porch, pushed her down, and walked into the house to remove the Confederate flag, according to the complaint.
Boatner reportedly told an officer he had politely asked the owner of the Confederate flag to take it down, but instead she moved it to a different window.
The officer asked for more details, and Boatner became argumentative, according to the complaint.
Boatner reportedly struggled against officers to avoid being handcuffed. Boatner would not spread his feet so the police could pat him down for weapons, so two officers forced him to move his feet, the complaint said.
After police arrested him, Boatner tried to resist getting into the car, and he reportedly kicked at the officers as they tried to close the door of the vehicle.
Boatner is charged with criminal trespassing, misdemeanor battery, disorderly conduct, misdemeanor theft and obstructing an officer.
(32) comments
I mean really. She had the flag in her home. It wasn't outside on a pole. It was in her home. I'm sorry if a flag offends some people but that doesn't give them the right to go into someone's home without permission. He is lucky. She didn't shoot him in her home.
This was not a "fight" over a confederate flag. This was a HOME INVASION.
Uh can we remove this ignorant comment...
My comment was deleted by the JT for supporting the history behind the Confederate Flag..................JT you commie mooorons!!!!
The culprits were trying to turn this into a Ferguson!
well Ms Toni Barribeau isn't a completely perfect individual herself (CCAP) She didn't have to use the N word and just because you have the "right" to fly a flag, doesnt mean it is "RIGHT" to do it. I believe she baited him and the disorderly charge she got isn't enough.
Someone goes out of their way to have a fit over a rebel flag? Are you for real with this comment? Such might fly with socialists who love to hate this nation, but it's not flying with me. It won't fly with the courts either. Someone shows up at my door demanding I take down a rebel flag or anything else they decide they don't like and they're likely to get shot if they try doing anything on my property.
Get back with us when you finally discover what rights actually are.
By the way, I also have an interracial marriage. Don't even go there.
Wow interracial marriage - BFD! you are the awesomest!! such a trend setter! Why did she have to make an angry man even madder by verbally harassing him? If someone is at my door demanding change - BAM calling 911 - let them figure it out. You are so delusional campbell - you should get it, but you don't have a clue!
oh no racineman, she used a bad word and hurt his feelings. I guess in your world that's worse than home invasion. You liberals sure have your priorities out of whack. He's lucky he didn't end up shot. Thank you Gov. Walker for the Castle Doctrine.
For my money there's nothing funnier than an angry liberal. Thanks for the laugh racineman!!
In most states, entering a building with the intent to commit a theft or other felony is charged as burglary. Not sure what's up with Wisconsin, but I'd definitely take a look at that angle.
It's not the people that fly the flags or speak how they feel one should worry about. But instead be worried about the ones which do NOT state their feelings.
If ccap is correct the guy has a long history in the system. He really does not care, or at best is incapable of knowing what he is doing. When and if he gets killed all we will see and hear is a procession of family telling us how he was just getting is life back in order along with some protests with 'black lives matter' and then the predictable interfaith event to discuss violence in Racine with the same usual suspects justifying their non-profits. If not already, this guy will be on the street in a couple of days and then the victim can start stressing about paybacks.
True "O"
What a jag! Too bad she didn't have a gun to shoot the home invader with....
Probation, probation, probation.....he'll be free to run amuck soon enough!
no just a mental lapse..fine and he is done..he is a well know scmuck loser ..criminal thug..and will never change till he is dead..hope he does not do real damage to a innocent..
If you ccap this guy you will find he shouldn't be anybody's neighbor. Leave the flag and take him down.
MCP - the woman Toni Barribeau - isn't a model citizen either
This is a forcible home invasion.
He is lucky he didn't try this at the home of a gun owner. At least the taxpayers would have been spared the cost of jailing him if he had.
he just wanted his bag of chips
While I would never display a confederate flag that doesn't mean someone else doesn't have the right to. He had no business doing what he did. The problem now will be it will cost tax payers 40,000/yr to keep him in prison. And what gets me is the argument about the confederate flag being their heritage. The flag most often seen as confederate was never the confederate flag(during the civil war) to begin with. The flag most commonly seen was a northern VA. battle flag that was adopted many years later. Remember that from Mrs. Duester's 8th grade American History class.
Not a bears fan. Still doesn't give me the right to tear down a flag in someone's house. Charge him with home invasion.
ridiculous... The lady has got huge stones for flying that flag on the 1300 block of Center. Who do people think they are that they're entitled to enter a stranger's home uninvited to take something down that offends them? Can I walk up to any hoodlum on the street and tell them to get a job and yank their pants up?
Obama nation run amok.
Exactly!
Yup, this is Obama's fault.
Dumb move by Boatner. If someone wants to fly the loosing teams flag, that's their problem.
YUPP there are plenty of BEAR FLAGS OUT THERE.??.can you just smash a car with that dixie flag on it..or any car with something on it that offends you..this could be fun..political bumper stickers..wow what fun we could all have..Clinton sticker ..feingold..boy we could smash up a few cars in Racine...you know Iv'e never seen a DICKERT bumper sticker..just saying..and you don't think liberal's are responsible for this behavior..HE!! ya they are..all these whacko's is on them..just give them a pill they will be alright!!
I am amazed at the lack of civility in some people. Oh, he ask her to take it down, so in his simple mind that gives him permission to assault her and break into her home.
This is the same childish mentality you are seeing in Ferguson and elsewhere - don't like something based off your own ignorance? Then behave violently.
Yep, cause you don't like something gives you the right to assault and break the law. Lucky you did not get shot. People need to think before they act.
Looking at Mr. Boatner's track record would seem he's not been thinking for along time.
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