Police: Man swears at children, threatens people with shoe

52-year-old allegedly caused disturbance at laundromat Sunday afternoon

MADISON, Wis. — A Madison man was arrested for allegedly swearing at a group of children and threatening people inside a laundromat Sunday afternoon, police said.

Officers responded to the 4600 block of Verona Road for reports of a man causing a disturbance, according to a release.

A woman told police she was confronted by Joseph L. Kearney, 52, when she was holding the door open for a group of small children around 12:20 p.m., officials said. Kearney allegedly swore at the group of children and started using disparaging racial remarks.

About 15 people were using the laundromat when Kearney started to punch a wall, and then held a shoe above his head in a threatening manner, according to the release.

Police said this was at least the third recent incident reported involving Kearney acting the same way.

Kearney was arrested on a tentative disorderly conduct charge.

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