A Milwaukee teenager says what started as a tense traffic stop in early February has now turned into something that feels a lot more personal. Weeks after being pulled over, she says a birthday card showed up at her home, packed with confetti and signed, "your friends at the Wisconsin State Patrol" — with no return address in sight.
The card, her family says, came after a Feb. 2 stop and arrest and included a reminder to register and insure the car. Instead of coming off as a friendly nudge, the mailer has left the teen and her mother feeling watched, and they have now filed a formal complaint with the Wisconsin State Patrol.
Traffic stop captured on video
On Feb. 2, Essence Barrow-Lee recorded her encounter with troopers and later told WDJT that an officer ordered her out of the car. In the clip, she can be heard asking why, and an officer replies, "I don't need a reason." Online court records and the family say she was cited for excessive speeding and for driving without registration. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says the State Patrol arrested her for obstruction, according to Local 12.
Card looked official, family says
Weeks after that stop, the family says a card arrived in the mail. It was signed "your friends at the Wisconsin State Patrol," stuffed with confetti and missing any return address. It also included a reminder to register and insure the vehicle, according to CBS58.
The Wisconsin State Patrol told reporters it did not send the card and believes it came from outside the agency. For Barrow-Lee and her mother, that answer has not made things feel any less unnerving. They say opening the envelope only intensified her anxiety.
Family reaction
Her mother, Jennifer Lee, told WDJT the surprise mailing worsened her daughter's already serious anxiety. Barrow-Lee said, "I am scared. I feel like I'm being followed," according to Local 12.
The family says they have contacted other agencies in an effort to trace where the card came from and to push for consequences for the trooper they allege used excessive force during the stop.
Investigation and next steps
Barrow-Lee and her mother filed a complaint with the Wisconsin State Patrol, and the agency says it is investigating the incident, according to CBS58. For families trying to understand what that process looks like, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation notes that the State Patrol reviews complaints about employee conduct internally, while the merits of any citation are handled by the courts.
How complaints are handled
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation's enforcement FAQ explains that filing a complaint does not automatically void or dismiss a ticket. Instead, the State Patrol reviews allegations of misconduct through its internal procedures, according to the Wisconsin DOT. The family says they are now waiting to hear back on their complaint while deciding whether to pursue additional avenues for accountability.
