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Police identify suspect in robbery spree

Waupaca police have released information about the robbery suspect they arrested Thursday morning.

Jessica M. Kaminske, 34, Manawa, is currently in custody at Waupaca County jail.

Waupaca Police Chief Tim Goke said he expects formal charges to be filed on Monday, March 4. He also confirmed that the woman is a suspect in several local robberies.

At least half a dozen robberies involving a female suspect have been reported in the area over the past year.

On April 18, 2012, a woman entered Stratton Drugs in downtown Waupaca shortly before closing time, told employees she had a gun and demanded drugs. She never actually displayed the gun.

She told the employees that she wanted 100 pills of Alprazolam, a psychoactive drug used to treat panic and anxiety, and 100 pills of Lorazepam, used for the treatment of anxiety, seizures and the sedation of hospitalized patients.

Employees gave the woman the drugs she wanted. She then ordered them to the back of the store.

On Jan. 19, a woman entered Sweet Medicine Pharmacy in downtown Iola. Witnesses told police that she threatened them with a handgun and left with prescription drugs.

On Wednesday, Feb. 20, a woman entered the Village Inn on West Fulton Street in Waupaca at 7:45 p.m., tied and bound the clerk and threatened her with a knife.

Shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, Waupaca police and county deputies responded to a 911 call reporting an attempted robbery at the Grand Seasons Best Western near the intersection of West Fulton and Grand Seasons Drive.

Witnesses at the hotel told officers that a woman entered the lobby, approached the front desk and demanded money.

She did not display a weapon, but she said she had one in her possession.

Shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday, a woman entered Primrose Gardens & Gifts in the city of Manawa and demanded money.

As the woman was leaving the store, the owner was able to photograph the license plate of her vehicle and provide a description of the vehicle to police.

The vehicle and the female suspect matched those involved in the robbery at the Grand Seasons.

At 10:25 a.m. Thursday, a woman entered The Feminine Touch on North Western Avenue near the intersection with West Fulton Street and demanded money.

She tied up a clerk with duct tape and left with an undetermined amount of cash and the store phone.

Shortly after 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Waupaca Police Officer Lisa Benitez observed the vehicle matching the description of the one used in the robberies pull into the parking lot of the Hardee’s Restaurant on West Fulton Street. Benitez conducted a high risk traffic stop.

Offices from the Waupaca Police Department and the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department arrived and made a felony arrest.

Kaminske has a criminal record dating back to May 2003 when she was convicted in Dane County of possession of heroin, two felony counts of forgery uttering, felony bail jumping and multiple counts of retail theft. She was placed on four years of probation.

In October 2003, Kaminske was convicted of retail theft in Waukesha County and sentenced to six months in jail.

In January 2006, the Dane County Circuit Court revoked Kaminske’s probation and sentenced her to one year in prison.

In 2009, local law enforcement began having frequent encounters with Kaminske. In less than four years, officers in Waupaca County have issued Kaminske more than 20 traffic citations and four ordinance citations. She has also been charged with criminal offenses.

In August and December 2009, Kaminske was cited in Waupaca County Circuit Court for passing worthless checks.

In January 2010, Kaminske was charged with one felony count of forgery uttering and one misdemeanor count of theft. The felony charge was subsequently dismissed and read into the record and she was convicted of the theft charge and placed on one year of probation.

In May 2010, Kaminske was charged with six misdemeanor counts passing worthless checks. In July 2010, five counts were dismissed and the remaining count was reduced to an ordinance violation.

In January 2013, Kaminske was charged with forgery uttering and theft after a man she had been living with accused her of stealing one of his checks, signing his name to it and cashing it for $185.

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