Pair attack, rob man who visits park to feed ducks, police say

Site staff by Site Contributor

Surveillance cameras helped police find two people who were arrested Wednesday in an attack at a Madison park, according to police.

Madison police said a 54-year-old man visits James Madison Park every day to feed the ducks, and he did so at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Police said he knows some of those who hang in the area from the streets, and as he passed a picnic table, one man asked if he had any beer. He did have one in his hand and he shared it, and the man chugged it down.

Police said some people at the table began asking the duck feeder for money and said they wanted to go buy some more beer. The 54-year-old said a woman then forcefully took money from his wallet. When he tried to get it back, he said the woman and a man from the table attacked him.

He told police he was punched, kicked and possibly hit with a stick. Officers were called to a fight in progress, and arrived to find the victim visibly shaken with a big knot on his head and cuts on his arms.

The suspects had left the area, but police were able to use area surveillance cameras to find them walking not far from the park.

Valerie L. Czebotar, 38, of Madison, and Richard A. Treyo, 49, who doesn’t have a permanent address, were both arrested. Czebotar was arrested on suspicion of robbery with use of force and battery. Treyo was arrested on suspicion of battery and party to the crime of robbery with use of force.

COPYRIGHT 2020 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.