UW–Madison Police Department

Madison Man Arrested, Charged in Hate Crime Incident

  • Incident date: September 15, 2021, 9:40 pm
  • Incident type: Disorderly Conduct
  • Location/address: West Dayton Street near Ogg Hall

The UW-Madison Police Department has arrested a Madison man following an incident that occurred in September.

On Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at approximately 9:40 pm, a UW student was walking on West Dayton Street near Ogg Hall when she was approached by an unknown man. The victim stated the man crossed the street, stopped a few feet from her, spat directly in her face, and made statements about COVID-19. The victim, an Asian American, told investigators she felt directly targeted due to her race and appearance. The victim was offered support and resources from the Dean of Students Office.

With the help of security cameras and assistance from the City of Madison Police Department, UWPD investigators were able to identify Morgan R. Kroll, 37, Madison, as the perpetrator. He was arrested on Monday, September 27, 2021, and booked into the Dane County Jail. Kroll has no affiliation with UW-Madison.

Kroll had his initial appearance in court on Thursday and was tentatively charged with disorderly conduct with a hate crime enhancer and two counts of bail jumping. As part of his court-ordered bail conditions, Kroll is banned from the UW-Madison campus.

UW-Madison and the UW-Madison Police Department take all hate and bias incidents very seriously. All members of the UW–Madison community deserve to feel welcome, valued, and safe. In addition to reporting hate crimes to UWPD, our community can also report hate and bias incidents to the university here.