Threatening Comment On LGBTQ+ Facebook Page Nets Hate Crime Charge For WI Man

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A Wisconsin man faces a hate crime charge for allegations he posted a threatening comment under a Lake County LGBTQ+ organization’s Facebook post.

William Ramlow has been extradited to Illinois and appeared in Lake County Circuit Court for his first court appearance Thursday, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office. Ramlow, 38, has been charged with one count of hate crime, which is a Class 4 felony.

The Round Lake Beach Police Department launched an investigation into Ramlow on June 3 after they became aware of a threatening comment left on a Facebook post published by the LGBTQ+ Center of Lake County. The organization’s post promoted the upcoming Lake County Pride Fest scheduled for June 14 at the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center, according to a news release.

The Facebook comment, left by a user with the screen name “William Ramlow,” included hateful, derogatory language and slurs, which advocated for violence against members of the LGBTQ+ community, authorities said.

Round Lake Beach Police officers investigated the matter and tracked the IP address of the user to an address in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Ramlow was taken into custody on June 13 by the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office.

“There is no place for hate in our communities. I want to personally thank the Elkhorn Police Department, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office for their cooperation and dedication throughout this investigation,"said Round Lake Beach Police Chief Ryan Rodriguez. "The collective efforts of our agencies reflect a strong commitment to justice, safety, and accountability.”

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a detention petition for Ramlow and a detention hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Friday.