On January 8, 2025, at 2:17 AM, Milwaukee Police received a 911 call from Amber Reyes at 1847 W. Mitchell Street, Apartment 3B. In the call, Reyes is heard crying and stating "My boyfriend hit me, he won't stop, please send someone." Sounds of yelling and a male voice saying "Hang up the phone!" are audible in the background. Officers Kyle Dombrowski and Sarah Chen arrived at 2:24 AM. They found Reyes in the hallway outside the apartment with a swollen left eye, a split lower lip, and redness on her right forearm consistent with being grabbed. Ryan Kowalski was inside the apartment, had red marks on his right knuckles, and appeared intoxicated (officers noted slurred speech, alcohol on breath). Kowalski stated "I didn't touch her, she's drunk and fell." He was arrested and charged with felony Domestic Battery (substantial bodily harm) under WI Statute 940.19(1). Six weeks later, Reyes submitted a written affidavit stating she was intoxicated, fell down the interior staircase, and that her 911 call was made in confusion and anger. She refuses to cooperate with prosecution.
911 Call Recording
Duration: 4 minutes 12 seconds. Reyes is crying, speech slightly slurred. At 0:08 she says "My boyfriend hit me, he won't stop, please send someone." At 0:34, a male voice in background shouts "Hang up the fucking phone!" At 0:52, a loud thud is heard followed by Reyes screaming. Dispatcher asks "Ma'am are you safe?" Reyes responds "He's in the bedroom now, I locked the bathroom door." At 2:15, Reyes says "He punched me in the face twice and grabbed my arm." At 3:40, she provides the address and apartment number. Line remains open until officer arrival.
Officer Body Camera & Scene Photos
Officer Dombrowski's body camera shows Reyes in the hallway, visibly distressed, with clear left orbital swelling and dried blood on her lower lip. She is wearing a tank top; redness and finger-shaped bruising visible on right forearm. When asked what happened, she initially states "He hit me" but then becomes hesitant: "I don't want him to go to jail... maybe I fell." Scene photos show apartment interior: an overturned coffee table, broken glass on living room floor, a dent in the drywall near the hallway. The interior staircase (leading to upper unit) is carpeted with intact handrail, no blood or disturbance on stairs.
Emergency Room Medical Report
Mercy Hospital ER visit, January 8, 2025, 4:15 AM. Patient: Amber Reyes. Findings: Left periorbital hematoma (black eye), 1.2cm laceration to lower lip (2 sutures required), linear bruising on right forearm consistent with forceful gripping (4 distinct finger-width marks). BAC: 0.14%. ER physician Dr. Nguyen noted: "Injury pattern is most consistent with blunt force trauma from a fist and forceful gripping. A staircase fall would typically present with injuries on bony prominences (knees, shins, palms) and diffuse rather than focal facial trauma. I see no injuries consistent with a fall." Patient told ER staff "my boyfriend punched me" upon intake.
Amber Reyes Recantation Affidavit
Sworn affidavit dated February 19, 2025. States: "I, Amber Reyes, was heavily intoxicated on the night of January 8. I tripped and fell on the interior staircase of our building. I was confused and angry and called 911 saying things that were not true. Ryan did not hit me. I was drunk and emotional. I do not wish to press charges and I refuse to testify. Our relationship is good and this was a misunderstanding." Notarized by Kowalski's family attorney, Mark Schaefer. Defense submitted as exculpatory evidence.
Prior Domestic Incident Report (2022)
Milwaukee PD Incident Report #2022-44891. On September 3, 2022, officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a different address involving Kowalski and then-girlfriend Tanya Bridges. Bridges had a bruised wrist and stated Kowalski "grabbed her and shoved her into the wall during an argument about money." Kowalski denied it. Bridges declined to press charges. No arrest was made. Officer noted in report: "Based on injuries observed, probable cause existed for arrest but victim refused cooperation." Photos of Bridges' wrist bruising are in file.
Officer Kyle Dombrowski (Prosecution)
Milwaukee PD, 8 years service, extensive domestic violence response training, certified in evidence-based prosecution techniques
We arrived within 7 minutes of the 911 call. Ms. Reyes was in the hallway crying with obvious facial injuries — a badly swollen black eye and a bleeding split lip. She had distinct finger-shaped bruises on her forearm. She told me "he hit me." When we entered, Mr. Kowalski was on the couch, appeared heavily intoxicated, and his right knuckles were visibly red and slightly swollen. The apartment showed signs of a struggle — overturned table, broken glass, a dent in the wall. I examined the staircase — it's carpeted with a handrail, no blood on it, no disturbance. Her injuries are not consistent with a staircase fall in my experience with hundreds of DV calls.
Daniel Mroz (Prosecution — Neighbor)
Lives in Apartment 3A, directly adjacent; 56-year-old factory worker; has lived in building 4 years
I was asleep and woke up around 2 AM to loud banging and a woman screaming. It was coming from 3B — Amber and Ryan's place. I heard a man yelling and then a big thud like something or someone hit the wall. Then more screaming. This went on for several minutes. I was about to call the police myself but then I heard sirens. This isn't the first time — they fight loudly maybe once a month, but this was the worst I've heard.
Ryan Kowalski (Defense — Defendant)
34-year-old HVAC technician, lives with Amber Reyes for 18 months, one prior domestic call (no charges), BAC .18 at time of arrest
We were both drinking that night — too much. We got into an argument about money, it got loud, I admit that. But I never hit her. She was stumbling drunk and went to go to the upstairs neighbor to get away from the argument. She fell on the stairs. I heard her fall and went to help her. She was hysterical and called 911 before I could even help. She was confused and angry at me because of the argument so she said I hit her. The next day when she sobered up she told me she knew it wasn't true. My knuckles were red because I punched the wall earlier — that's the dent they saw.
Domestic Violence Assault — Milwaukee, WI
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