Brown Deer, Wi., police went to the home of Radcliffe and Zina Haughton 20 times but officers never made an arrest, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Village President Carl Krueger said police acted appropriately when they retreated from a standoff after they saw Radcliffe Haughton point what appeared to be a rifle at his wife in 2011. On Sunday, after two decades of domestic violence in the couple’s relationship without Haughton being held accountable, he shot seven women at a spa, killing three, including Zina, who worked there.
The village president said the lack of cooperation by Zina Haughton during the 2011 standoff prevented officers from entering the home. Zina Haughton told police that no guns were in the house. Police reports show officers thought she was lying about other details. Experts said that is common among victims trying to protect their abusers. Police experts said they were baffled by the police response to the 2011 standoff. They said officers should have called for a SWAT team and arrested Radcliffe Haughton, regardless of what his wife said. Brown Deer Police Chief Steven Rinzel said his officers might have been criticized if they had busted down the door that day.