Executive Summary
- Racine County SWAT arrested Kevin Francois and Jennifer Schemenauer following a raid on February 26.
- Agents seized heroin, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine, all of which were laced with fentanyl.
- Two children, ages one and six, were removed from the home and placed in protective custody.
- Law enforcement confiscated two semi-automatic handguns and nearly $6,000 in cash.
RACINE, Wis. — Two individuals were taken into custody and two young children were placed in protective care following a tactical narcotics raid executed by the Racine County SWAT Team and Metro Drug agents on February 26, 2026.
Authorities identified the suspects as Kevin Francois, 40, and Jennifer Schemenauer, 41. The arrests occurred after law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence near Washington Avenue and Arthur Avenue on the city’s southwest side. According to the Racine County Sheriff’s Office, the operation was the result of an investigation into suspected drug trafficking activity at the location.
During the search, agents reportedly confiscated a significant cache of controlled substances and weaponry. The inventory of seized evidence included 21.3 grams of heroin, 41.5 grams of methamphetamine, and 28.6 grams of crack cocaine. Investigators noted that all three substances were laced with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid linked to a high rate of overdose fatalities. Officers also recovered 12 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, approximately 105 grams of THC products, oxycodone pills, and nearly $6,000 in U.S. currency.
Law enforcement officials stated that two semi-automatic handguns were also secured from the property. Of particular concern to investigators was the presence of two children, ages one and six, living within the home. The minors were removed by Child Protective Services and transported for medical examination.
Sheriff Christopher Schmaling addressed the gravity of the situation in a press statement. "What is most disturbing about this case is that two small children were living in a home where dangerous narcotics, including drugs laced with Fentanyl, were being stored and sold," Schmaling said. "The Sheriff’s Office will continue to use every resource available to identify, investigate, and dismantle drug trafficking operations in our community."
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Formal charges against Francois and Schemenauer are currently pending.
Public Safety Impact
The discovery of fentanyl laced into multiple types of narcotics—including stimulants like methamphetamine and crack cocaine—indicates a persistent and lethal volatility in the local illicit drug supply. This case highlights the heightened priority law enforcement places on dismantling operations where firearms and highly toxic substances intersect with child welfare. The intervention by the SWAT team and Child Protective Services underscores the procedural strategy of mitigating immediate physical risks to minors while securing volatile evidence in high-risk trafficking investigations.
