By Michael Graber
(Above: part of the arrest detention report against Oliva)
On Feb. 12, 2006, according to the criminal complaint against James Oliva, Milwaukee police received a report of “shots fired” at 2:25 a.m. in the area of 2300/2400 S. 1st St. Several minutes later, after hearing the report of the shooting, an officer heard several other gunshots.
According to the complaint:
During the investigation, a detective interviewed a woman who was at the scene. She had come to Milwaukee from Indiana to attend a dinner and dance and went to a tavern with friends. She said she heard some firecrackers go off.
She was interviewed again, still in February. This time she said she heard gunshots go off, and Oliva was one of those behind her. She didn’t see who fired them.
In March, she was interviewed yet again and said she hadn’t told the truth. This time, she said she turned around and saw Oliva holding a gun, pointed at the sidewalk, and saw him shoot it. Another man in the party also shot a gun, she said.
In May, Oliva was interviewed. He said he is a member of a motorcycle club. He and the Indiana members were at the Bottle Tavern, along South Kinnickinnic Avenue.
When he left the bar, he said, while in the middle of the street, “he pulled out his gun and fired a shot, or possibly two shots. He said that he did not remember if he shot at the ground or into the air, but that he thinks it was into the street. The defendant said that he does not know why this happened, but that his judgment was impaired by the alcohol he had used.”
In May 2006, Oliva was convicted of disorderly conduct and sentenced to 90 days in the House of Correction with work-release privileges. The sentence was stayed and he was ordered to serve a year of probation and not involve himself in activities of the Untouchables Motorcycle Club.
His personnel card says he is assigned to patrol support division and does not list any disciplinary action.