New Details Released in Superior Police Brutality Case

SUPERIOR - "It's highly unusual, but isn't everything about this case," said Douglas County District Attorney, Dan Blank.

Natasha Lancour’s attorney, Rick Gondik, is saying Blank was dragging his feet on possible charges against Superior Police Officer George Gothner. Now, Blank is firing back on what he calls a circus of a case in one small-knit community.

The official Wisconsin Department of Justice report on the case was supposed to be released in court Wednesday. But instead, a trial date was set for Lancour’s misdemeanor charges.

As for Officer Gothner, his part of the case is now under review by Bayfield County's district attorney.

"It's so obvious that it should be dismissed,” said Lancour’s attorney. “The D.A. hasn't seen fit to do his job and dismiss it so we'll have a jury of 12 do it for him."

"The totally innocent bystander, not a drop, designated driver routine isn't going to hold up," Blank said explaining his side of the story.

Lancour is charged with a misdemeanor for resisting and obstructing an officer. Gondick and Lancour believe the charges should have been dropped when the Department of Justice took over Gothner’s investigation.

"A picture's worth 1000 words,” said Gondik. “How many words is video of my client getting a beat down from a police officer worth?"

"Actions speak louder than words,” expressed Lancour while leaving the courtroom. “There's nothing I can say that can change what happened in the video."

The state report has been on district attorney Blank's desk since February 13, and has not motioned to press charges against the officer. He claims he was looking for another prosecutor to take over the case because of conflict of interest.

“I issue charges, it's very difficult to work in the local community,” Blank explained. “I don't issue charges; I get accused of protecting someone I work with in the local community."

Gondik said the district attorney has had enough time to look over the facts, and now he's asing for a speedy trial. According to state law, it needs to happen within 60 days.

“It's really short time frame,” Blank said. “We're kind of expecting everyone to drop what they've got.”

Gondik and Lancour are calling the case a conflict of interest. So Blank is giving the Gothner investigation to Bayfield County’s district attorney, Fred Bourg, for a closer look.

Bourg now holds the power to press charges against Officer Gothner.

Lancour and her attorney asked Blank to hand the state report on Gothner over Wednesday, but the DA says the new prosecutor needs time to look it over before the public sees it.

"A prosecutor likes to have a little bit of time privately with their case before it goes public,” explained Blank. “I think we've lost that so let the games begin.”

Friday, the report on Officer Gothner will be made public.

Tuesday, March 25 kicks off the jury trial.