Dizard seeks temporary injunction against Retzlaff

Receiver fears her presence could hinder sealed-bid auction on Annie’s Campground
By: 
Lee Pulaski
City Editor

Annie’s Campground receiver Seth Dizard has made an emergency motion for a temporary injunction against Ann Retzlaff, the previous owner of the business currently facing recklessly endangering safety and other criminal charges.

Court documents indicate that Retzlaff, who recently was able to post a $15,000 bond and be released from the Shawano County Jail after three months of incarceration, has entered the property without permission and could potentially disrupt the operation of the campground, which is currently part of a sealed-bid auction for Bank First to recoup $1.5 million that Retzlaff owes.

According to Dizard’s motion, the sale of the property has expressed interest, and several parties are conducting site visits prior to submitting sealed bids, which are due at noon Aug. 19.

“A temporary injunction prohibiting Ms. Retzlaff from entering Annie’s Campground’s property without permission and from otherwise interfering with operations and the sale process is warranted to protect the safety of those at the campground and prevent the diminution of the value of the assets to the detriment of creditors,” according to court documents. “Ms. Retzlaff, a so-called sovereign citizen who has recklessly endangered the safety of others and believes she is immune from the orders of this Court, is potentially dangerous and motivated to stop the Court-approved sale of the campground.”

According to the motion, there is concern that Retzlaff’s involvement with the sovereign citizen movement “increases the risk that she will cause physical harm if she is allowed on the campground without a police escort.” It says that Dizard would be open to allow Retzlaff onto the property to collect her personal items only with permission and a police escort.

The emergency motion was filed Aug. 5, but circuit court records do not show a hearing has been scheduled. Retzlaff is due in court on the criminal charges Aug. 11 for a bail/bond hearing.

A plea of not guilty was entered June 13 by Marathon County Circuit Court Judge Mark Moran, who is now presiding over the criminal cases, after Retzlaff demanded a “trial by jury” while claiming the court has no jurisdiction over her.

Retzlaff is facing felony and misdemeanor counts of bail jumping for not appearing in court in November 2021. The owner of Annie’s Campground near Gresham is also facing two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct during her arrest April 20 in Wittenberg on body-only warrants and her subsequent processing in the Shawano County Jail.

This is on top of the original charges stemming from a police chase through two counties back in May 2021, which include fleeing and eluding officers and two counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety, as well as a misdemeanor count of resisting or obstructing an officer. She also faces misdemeanor charges through Menominee County for resisting and failing to stop.

Retzlaff had been in jail due to her inability to pay a $25,000 cash bond ordered by the court, which Moran later lowered to $15,000. She had objected to that amount, as well, but court records show the bond was posted by credit card on Aug. 3 and her new residents to be on County Road V in Reedsburg.

Retzlaff has claimed that she had traveled to the Menominee Reservation to rescue a woman who was her employee and was allegedly being sex trafficked from a home there when she was pursued by law enforcement.

Retzlaff has previously run afoul of law enforcement and elected officials. Restraining orders were approved against her at the request of Shawano County Supervisor Joseph Miller and his wife, Jacqueline Miller, in April 2021, about a month before the criminal charges of recklessly endangering safety were filed. She also was found guilty by default judgement to harassment through unlawful phone use in June 2020 for impersonating law enforcement.

Retzlaff also gained notoriety for keeping her business open in the first few months in 2020 during the pandemic despite Gov. Tony Evers’ Safer at Home order, claiming it violated her constitutional rights.


lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com