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Fountain City Police Department

42 N. Main St. PO Box 85

PRESS RELEASE Fountain City, WI 54629

jason@fountaincitywisconsin.com

December 9, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RE: Fountain City Death Investigation

Attached: “Autopsy Report” dated 12/02/2014

This will be the final press release regarding Fountain City Police case number 2014-323 titled,

“Baures Death Investigation.”

Please note: the Fountain City Police Department’s role is to establish if any violation occurred

of Wisconsin State Statutes, principally chapters 939-969. It is our finding at this point that no

crime occurred in this tragedy.

The victim is Brooke J Baures, age 21, of Chetek, Wisconsin. Brooke was employed by the

WingDam Saloon & Grill and was performing server/bartender duties for a banquet on the

second floor on Monday, December 1st, 2014.

Based on Verizon and Sprint cellular calls associated with this incident, at approximately 7:54-

7:55PM, the cook, who was located in the kitchen, heard the food elevator begin to descend to

his access point on the first floor. He didn’t’ hear vocalizations of any kind. When the cab

landed on the first floor he walked up expecting to see dirty dishes and immediately recognized

that a person was trapped inside. Simultaneously the first floor bar-tender was coming into the

kitchen. The first of several 911 calls came moments later from this female bartender.

Fountain City Fire was the first emergency services organization on scene and determined

Brooke passed away. FCFD immediately requested law enforcement through Buffalo County

emergency dispatch and a Buffalo County Sheriff’s deputy was the first law enforcement officer

on scene. The incident scene and witnesses were subsequently processed using a multi-agency

approach involving the Fountain City Police Department, the Buffalo County Sheriff’s

Department and the Buffalo County Coroner.

The investigation determined 18 people were in a second floor dining room adjacent to the buffet

area where Brooke was performing her work duties. In Brooke’s work area behind the buffet is

the second floor access for the food elevator. Several in the banquet could see much of the

second floor; however the elevator access was completely out of sight for everyone. This second

floor access measures 32.5 inches by 32.5 inches and is 36 inches up from the floor. There is a

wall mounted wood door that is freely opened and closed; and the door’s position does not affect

the functionality of the elevator system (e.g. elevator fails to operate if this door is open).

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When the cab of the elevator is located on the second floor, it can only be sent down to the first

floor using the control box next to the second floor access. The reverse is true for first floor

operation. Due to the absence of doors on the cab specifically, an operator must physically stay

clear of the device as it ascends or descends to avoid injury.

Based on witnesses’ statements, FCPD believes Brooke is the only person who could have

pressed the control button on the second floor. Second, witness statements and the investigation

indicate the wall mounted wood door was open. Based on the autopsy results, FCPD believes

that Brooke’s head was located almost entirely inside the cab of the elevator canted slightly to

her right as the cab descended. When the roof of the cab passed the sill of the second floor

access, Brooke sustained fatal crushing injuries to her brainstem and cerebellum. Investigative

follow up determined that the roof of a weighted cab takes approximately 4.5-5 seconds to pass

the wood sill. In other words, this is the amount of time an operator has until the interior of the

cab disappears out of sight below the sill.

None of the 18 banquet-goers heard any vocalization. Several witnesses place Brooke behind

the buffet area just prior to the final cycling of the elevator. The cycling of the elevator produces

a noise that several witnesses are familiar with; later described as similar to a garage door motor.

In this final cycling however, the majority of the attendees heard unusual noises coming from the

elevator. Moments later the cook is seen rushing towards the second floor access (this being

after his discovery on the first floor and while the first 911 is being placed).

FCPD has considerable follow-up remaining to establish the history of the food elevator and the

final paper reports of various documents, including the lengthy autopsy report due in several

weeks. Lastly, FCPD will continue to work to learn the final moment leading up to Brooke’s

fatal injuries.

At the direction of the State of Wisconsin, Department of Safety and Professional Services, the

elevator was permanently removed from 1 North Shore Dr. on Saturday, December 6th

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Again, this is the final press release regarding this incident. Any further inquiry into this incident

must be made directly to FCPD and will be satisfied in conformity of department policy and

Wisconsin Statue §19.21-19.39. For the sake of efficiency and receiving a thorough response,

requestors are asked to submit via email.

Respectfully,

Jason Mork, Chief

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