MADISON (WKOW) -- Authorities are investigating crimes with possible links to opposition to the effort to recall Governor Scott Walker.
Madison police spokesman Joel DeSpain said a man was seen near Atwood Avenue coffee shop The Victory shortly before a large rock crashed through a window Tuesday and nearly hit a customer.
DeSpain said a note with a political message was attached to the rock. While the note references former state Supreme Court candidate JoAnne Kloppenburg, the rock broke a window just above a sign urging Walker's recall.
DeSpain said the rock was either thrown or propelled by a sling shot and nearly hit a customer.
The Victory owner Patrick Downey said the vandalism will not force changes at his establishment.
"I'm just a guy with a couple of signs in the window. Since when is that something you can't do in America?"
United Wisconsin Vice Chairperson Lynn Freeman said FBI agents and the state Department of Justice have been notified of an apparent cyber crime against the non-profit recall organization Monday.
Freeman said someone disrupted service to the organization's web site for approximately three hours as the group prepared for Tuesday's beginning of the collection of recall signatures.
Freeman said the vendor providing web service to the group has been unable to trace the source of the computer infiltration.
DeSpain said police personnel remain on alert for potentially criminal acts in connection to the current political activity in the state.
Earlier this month, State Capitol police officials said they were investigating an online death threat against Gov. Walker. The threat was posted to a recall-sympathizing web site. The person responsible for making the post, Regan Cowan of Madison, told 27 News it was posted as a joke.
Capitol police officials have only said the matter remains under investigation.
