October 29
1:01 p.m.- A caller reported a domestic disturbance at a residence. The involved female reported she had been kicked by the involved male. He admitted to pushing her down. The male was arrested for domestic battery.
8:29 p.m.- An officer conducted a traffic stop for an equipment violation. The officer could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. One male turned over a small quantity of marijuana and was cited for possession of THC. Another passenger admitted another baggie containing a small amount of marijuana inside the vehicle was his. He too was cited for possession of marijuana. An additional passenger was cited for juvenile possession of tobacco.

October 31
2:43 p.m.- Officers responded to the Probation and Parole office to take a male party into custody for a probation violation. He was transported to the jail.
3:20 p.m.- An officer responded to a gas skip complaint. The suspect had not paid for $20 worth of fuel. Investigation is ongoing.

November 1
3:19 a.m.- An officer responded to an address for an animal complaint. The anonymous caller stated there were dogs barking in the area. Contact was made with the owner of the barking dogs and they were advised they were going to be cited again as they already had been previously for the same complaint.
10:18 a.m.- Officers responded to a two vehicle crash. An elderly female driver was stopped at a stop sign and pulled out in front of a vehicle that had the right of way. The female had to be removed from the vehicle by the fire department. She was cited for failure to yield the right of way.
3:36 p.m.- An officer conducted a traffic stop and the driver displayed signs of impairment. The driver was placed through field sobriety tests, failed, and was placed under arrest for operating while intoxicated, 3rd offense.

The post Merrill Police reports appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

Jeremy Ratliff
Reporter

After nearly two years of planning, discussion and implementation, late last year the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office completed the deployment of 17 patrol vehicles exclusively assigned to patrol deputies, as part of the agency’s new take-home squad program.

And according to county Finance Director Dan Leydet, the program has come at minimal expense to county tax payers.

“The sheriff’s office take-home squad program has had virtually no impact on the county budget or significant increase to the sheriff’s office budget,” Leydet said. “The patrol squad replacement budget is at the same level as it was prior to the take-home program, which is around $120,000 annually. The true impact will be known once the program is up and running for several more years, because the true fiscal impact for the outlay budget will be determined by the new vehicle replacement schedule, which is not known at this time. It is not known because the program is new and the take-home vehicles have not yet had to be turned over.”

While new to Lincoln County, according to Sheriff Jeff Jaeger; the concept is anything but new to agencies statewide, or neighboring agencies for that matter.

In a recent query by Jaeger to all sheriff’s offices north of Highway 10, polling those who have yet to initiate a similar program, Jaeger received zero responses.

“Having patrol deputies assigned a patrol vehicle has become a standard for agencies across the board, both in the state of Wisconsin and abroad,” Jaeger explains. “When my career began nearly 40 years ago, it would have been a major perk to be assigned my own squad. It would have been a pretty big deal..this sort of thing was just unheard of back then, but now that’s changed. Now when we recruit, it’s become an expectation by incoming deputies to be assigned a vehicle to take home.”

Of other neighboring agencies, perhaps one of the longest running take-home squad programs is that of the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, which was first implemented in 1996.

Currently Marathon County has deployed 68 vehicles to sworn personnel, 43 of which are patrol deputies.

Recruiting in fact was one of a few key motivating factors for Jaeger’s administration initiating the program in early 2016.

“We had done a lot of research and had lengthy discussions with other agencies well before we decided to move forward,” he said. “All the information we found leaned toward a take-home squad program being beneficial to us not only from a recruitment perspective, but also in terms of fleet maintenance, minimizing response times and providing an additional deterrent to criminal activity. Marked patrol vehicles are already a deterrent when on patrol, but now when you have squads parked in neighborhoods and residential areas on a regular basis, there is a high probability anyone considering engaging in criminal activity would avoid those areas.

“From a recruitment standpoint, we compete with local agencies and other sheriff’s offices for qualified candidates and many of these agencies offer salary and benefits which exceed what we can offer. For example, the Merrill Police Department pays their new officers roughly $13,000 more per year than we are able to pay our new deputies, and due to budgetary restrictions, I don’t foresee that changing any time soon. That’s awfully hard to compete with. But having a take-home squad program gives us something to work with for a recruitment incentive

In addition, by assigning deputies a vehicle to take home also minimizes response times.

Currently, of the 20 patrol deputies employed by the Sheriff’s Office, 17 have been assigned take-home vehicles. Two deputies live outside of the county and another has opted to not take a vehicle home.

The 17 deputies reside throughout the county, including the Harrison, Irma and Tomahawk areas. Prior to being assigned take-home vehicles, deputies were required to commute from home to the sheriff’s office, pick up their assigned vehicle and begin their shift. The same would apply in critical situations where deputies or SRT (Special Response Team) members are called upon for urgent response.

For example, if a critical incident were to occur north of Tomahawk or Harrison, the very minimal time frame for an off-duty deputy to respond could be as long an hour, even for deputies who happen to live nearby. However by now having patrol vehicles assigned, deputies can respond much quicker, according to Chief Deputy Nate Walrath.

“We have deputies with assigned vehicles all over the county who now have the ability to respond in a matter of minutes,” he adds. “Rather than having to spend critical minutes commuting to the sheriff’s office to get a vehicle before responding. In a critical situation, every minute is crucial.”

Captain Sean McCarthy of the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office is in agreement.

“Even after 22 years of having the program in place, we continue to enjoy considerable benefit by having our deputies, investigators and department administration assigned vehicles to take home. By far the most impactful, is the ability for our deputies to save considerable time by responding to incidents directly from their homes rather than having to drive to the sheriff’s office (downtown Wausau) to get a vehicle first.” he explains.

“I could list numerous instances over the years where deputies were able to respond within minutes to critical incidents.The most recent to come to mind is the active shooter incident in the Village of Weston in March of 2017. We called in off-duty personnel who responded immediately from home. If they did not have take-home vehicles and had to respond to the office first to get a vehicle, we could have been looking at much different results that day.

“We have had weather-related incidents, large accidents as other examples, in different areas around the county. But regardless of where these incidents happened, deputies were able to respond immediately due to being able to simply jump in their vehicle and get to where they are needed.”

Following nearly a year’s worth of planning and discussion, the initiative got underway in 2016, with the first step being retention of patrol vehicles that would normally have been rotated out of service.

“Each year we budget for the purchase of four new patrol vehicles to replace those we rotate out of service due to wear and tear,” Walrath explains. “In 2016, we did not rotate any vehicles out but purchased our usual four new vehicles at our budgeted amount of $120,000 per year. In 2017 we did not rotate any vehicles out and purchased three additional  vehicles. Occasionally we must budget higher as vehicle prices increase, so this year we budgeted $130,000 as well as next year. By having one vehicle used by one deputy, rather than two or three deputies constantly running the same vehicle, it definitely reduces wear and tear and results in lower maintenance demand.”

Prior to the initiation of the take home squad program, vehicle oil changes were performed every two weeks on average due to the considerable mileage each vehicle accumulates, which Walrath estimates to have been approximately 75,000 miles per year. As confirmed by Leydet, such wear and tear on vehicles had led to the average service life of each Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle to be around two years. However, with the implementation of the take-home squad program, oil changes are now required less often.

“At an average of 21,600-28000 miles per year based on past experience, we are looking at between five and seven years of service from a squad , a considerable increase in service life of our vehicles,” Jaeger said.

The post Sheriff’s Office completes ‘take home squad’ initiative appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

November 2
9:13 a.m.- A female was arrested for a probation violation at the request of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
10:25 a.m.- A male was arrested for a probation violation at the request of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

November 3
12:37 p.m.- A crash was reported on W. Main St. at Foster St. One driver was cited for inattentive driving and violation of GDL restrictions. A crash report was completed.
5:03 p.m.- A caller reported a riding lawn mower was on fire. Officers were able to extinguish the flames prior to the fire dept. arriving. The scene was turned over to the fire dept.

November 4
11:35 a.m.- A female reported a scam attempt. She had received a call from a male who told her she had won Publisher’s Clearing House and instructed her to go to Walmart to make a money transfer to claim her prize. She knew better and did not send any money.
3:22 p.m.- A caller reported obtaining her credit report from a website which showed accounts/bills not made by her. It appeared another person was possibly shown on those accounts and had a different middle initial. The validity of the site is unknown and she was instructed to contact the accredited credit bureau(s) to obtain a verified credit report.

The post Merrill Police reports appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

A 24-year-old Merrill man was arrested Monday morning on a warrant. A deputy stopped the vehicle the man was riding in on County Rd. C in the Town of Schley.

A 38-year-old Irma man was arrested Monday evening on numerous charges after deputies responded to the report of a disturbance. Deputies had been searching for the suspect after two prior incidents at the residence and Monday evening they were able to locate him and take him into custody with the assistance of the K9 Poncho. As a result of the three separate incidents the man was charged with: Intimidate victim by use of force (Felony); two counts of battery (misdemeanor); four counts of disorderly conduct (m); three counts of strangulation/suffocation (f); three counts of felony bail jumping along with resisting arrest (m).

Deputies teamed up with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Probation and Parole Division on Halloween and conducted home checks on sex offenders in the county to make sure they were in compliance with their rules. All the offenders were found to be in compliance.

A 57-year-old Tomahawk man was arrested Thursday morning on a felony charge after deputies found a wrong way driver on US Hwy. 51. Cell callers reported a vehicle traveling north in the southbound lane south of Tomahawk. A deputy quickly located and stopped the vehicle south of County Rd. D. The driver showed signs of impairment and was placed through field sobriety tests. As result of those tests he was arrested for a fifth offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

A 36-year-old Weston man was arrested following a traffic crash Friday morning in the Town of Pine River. A check showed the man was driving with a revoked driver’s license, was in violation of a felony bond, and was wanted by the Marathon County Sheriff for failing to appear on a criminal traffic charge. The man was charged in Lincoln County with felony bail jumping and cited for driving on a revoked license.

A 60-year-old Irma man was arrested Saturday evening for violating the terms of his probation. Deputies went to a business in the Town of Birch after a parking complaint was received. When deputies spoke to the man they learned he was on probation and had been drinking in violation of his rules.

A 28-year-old Tomahawk man was arrested Sunday morning on a disorderly conduct charge. Deputies went to an address in the Town of Bradley after learning the man created a disturbance at two locations.

Deputies responded to 6 vehicles that went in the ditch Sunday morning as a result of the snow covered roads.

The number of crashes involving deer has increased over last weeks with 20 being reported. A bear was found after it was struck Monday on US Hwy. 51 in the Town of Bradley.

The post Lincoln County Sheriff’s reports appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

october 30
Calls: #1606- At 7:24 a.m. Med 62 responded to Grand Ave. for an 88 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1607- At 9:30 a.m. Med 62 responded to 7th St. for a CPP, no transport. #1608- At 2:23 p.m. Med 62 responded to Pine Crest for an 88 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1609- At 4:36 p.m. Med 62 responded to O’Day St. for a 94 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1610- At 4:47 p.m. Med 63 responded to Grand Ave. for a call, no patient found.
Other activities: Fire safety inspections of area businesses.

october 31
Calls: #1614- At 2;49 a.m. Med 62 responded to Spring Lake Rd. for a 67 year old male with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1615- At 11:28 a.m. Med 62 responded to O’Day St. for a 70 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1615- At 9:41 a.m. Med 63 responded to Jackson St. for a 79 year old female with a medical problem, no transport. #1617- At 4:48 p.m. Med 62 responded to Ohio St. for a 41 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH.
Other Activities: After incident critique of fire call.

november 1
Calls: #1618- At 5:07 a.m. Med 62 responded to Pine Crest for an 85 year old male with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1619- At 7:10 a.m. Med 62, Eng 62 and Squad 64 responded to Ohio St. for a gas odor. Investigation found a leaking gas grill, the tank was turned off. #1620- At 4:45 p.m. Med 62 responded to Pope Rd. for a 66 year old female with a fall, no transport. #1621- At 5:26 p.m. Eng 62 responded to Cleveland St. for a CO detector sounding, furnace was causing the alarm. #1622- At 11:12 p.m. Med 62 responded to Grand Ave. for a 55 year old male with a medical problem, transported to AGSH.
Other Activities: Readings on vertical ventilation in fires.

november 2
Calls: #1627- At 7:37 a.m. Eng 62, Truck 63 and Med 62 responded to Pine Ridge Ave. for a smoke alarm sounding, unknown cause of alarm. #1638- At 8:08 a.m. Eng 62, Truck 63 and Med 62 responded to 8th St. for a chimney fire, personnel extinguished the fire with a 10-lb dry chemical extinguisher. #1629- At 1:53 p.m. Med 62 responded to Grand Ave. for an 88 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1630- At 4:29 p.m. Med 62 responded to 3rd St. for a report of a fire, found that a few leaves were smoking.
Other activities: Fire prevention inspections of area businesses.

november 3
Calls: #1632- At 5:07 a.m. Eng 62, Truck 63 and Med 62 responded to Taylor St. for a fire alarm, no problems were found. #1633- At 9:56 a.m. Med 62 responded to Grand Ave. for an 84 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1634- At 10:23 a.m. Med 62 responded to Fowler Dr. for a 71 year old male with a medical problem, transported to Aspirus Wausau. #1635- At 1:29 p.m. Eng 62 responded to an alarm, found that alarm was set off on accident.
Other activities: Drill on disoriented fire fighters and SCBA buddy breathing.

november 4
Calls: #1640- At 12:18 a.m. Med 62 responded to State St. for a 63 year old male with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1641- At 3:58 a.m. Med 62 responded to Martin St. for a 52 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1599- At 4:43 a.m. Med 62 responded to Thielman Rd. for an 81 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1642- At 7:46 a.m. Med 62 responded to O’Day St. for a 49 year old male with a medical problem, transported to AGSH.

The post Merrill Fire Department reports appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

The Merrill Police Department holds an arrest warrant issued 9/25/2017 for Lillian J. Frederick-Vandergeest, DOB 1/24/1989, last known address 301 Wisconsin St., Merrill. The city recovered a judgment of $105.10 for animal running at large. The defendant is in default of payment, and must pay the amount or spend 2 days in jail.

The information on this warrant was current as of the time of publication. Anyone with information on Lillian J. Frederick-Vandergeest should call the Merrill Police Department at 715-536-8311.

The post Merrill Warrant of the Week appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

November 5
10:47 a.m.- Officers responded to the office of Probation and Parole to take a male party into custody for a probation violation. The male was transported to the jail.
8:53 p.m.- Dispatch took a complaint of a possibly intoxicated driver that was driving in a reckless manner. The vehicle was located in the city and a traffic stop was conducted. The driver did not displays signs of impairment and stated they were driving in a reckless manner to get away from a vehicle that was following them and harassing them. The driver was cited for an instructional permit violation.

November 7
4:12 p.m.- A male was arrested for a probation violation at the request of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
4:40 p.m.- A male was arrested for a probation violation at the request of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
4:55 p.m.- A caller reported he had taken his scooter to the library and found it missing when he went to leave. He located it damaged and in a trash can. The matter was found to be a dispute among the juveniles and the scooter was not damaged. The officer will be checking surveillance video to observe what occurred.
10:13 p.m.- A business reported a fight was about to occur among 10-15 individuals. Officers made contact with the group and were informed one was causing the problems. The manager confirmed it was one male causing problems. No fight had occurred and the man was asked to leave. During the entire contact the man was loud, boisterous and continued swearing at officers. He was told he must leave the business. He did not immediately leave as he left his shoes lying somewhere in the business. Staff and officers attempted to locate his shoes but could not. The man sat back down in the business and he was again told he must leave. He again did not leave and argued with officers as well as continued swearing at them. He was arrested for disorderly conduct. A search of him revealed he had marijuana in his pocket. He was additionally charged with possession of THC.
11:31 p.m.- Officer were called to a hotel after a domestic disturbance was reported in one of the rooms. The clerk reported he received a call from an intoxicated male in one of the rooms asking him to call the police as there was another male in the room battering a female. Officers made contact at the room and a male had recorded the incident on his cell phone which confirmed the male and female were involved in a physical altercation with the male shoving the female. Contact was made at their room. The male was arrested for domestic disorderly conduct based on the video shown to officers.

November 8
2:56 p.m.- A male was arrested for a probation violation at the request of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
3:30 p.m.- Officers received information that a male was at a female’s residence in violation of his probation rules. Contact was made with the man and he was arrested for the probation violation. Officers could smell the odor of marijuana inside the residence. The female turned over a small amount of marijuana and a marijuana grinder. The male claimed ownership of the paraphernalia and will be cited.

November 9
3:56 p.m.- An officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle for the operator driving with a revoked license. The driver of the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed when the officer attempted to stop the vehicle with lights and siren activated. In fleeing from the officer the driver failed to stop at stop signs. For safety purposes and due to road conditions the pursuing officer terminated the pursuit. The vehicle was later recovered in Marathon County abandoned. The investigation is ongoing into the operator of the vehicle.
11:06 p.m.- Officers were called to a residence and made contact with a female party who was known to have a warrant for a probation violation through Wisconsin Department of Corrections. That female party was taken into custody for the warrant.

November 10
9:30 a.m.- Officers were dispatched to a complaint of a child falling into a pond at a business. A staff member was able to assist the child out before officer’s arrival. The child was unharmed from the incident and released to parents.

November 11
8:42 a.m.- Officers responded to a disorderly conduct complaint. The suspect had left the scene in a vehicle which was located and officers made contact with the male driver. He displayed signs of impairment and was placed through field sobriety tests. The male was arrested for operating while intoxicated and was also charged with two counts of bail jumping. He had an active warrant for his arrest.
1:24 p.m.- Officers responded to a shoplifting complaint. A male party had set off the alarms while leaving the store and employees tried to get the male to stop but he left on foot and the female he was with, left in a vehicle. The vehicle was later located and a traffic stop was conducted. The male suspect was in the vehicle and he was found to have a warrant for his arrest. He was taken into custody on the warrant. There were no items that appeared to be stolen inside of the vehicle and he denied stealing any merchandise.
2:32 p.m.- An officer responded to a one vehicle crash. A male party had rolled a vehicle onto its side and took out a street sign. The driver was cited for driving too fast for conditions.

The post Merrill Police reports appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

A 63-year-old Ringle man was taken into custody Tuesday evening after deputies investigated a crash in the Town of Pine River at 8:30 p.m. The male drove off the roadway and became stuck. He was cited for a first offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

Several reports of vehicles sliding off the roadway were received on Wednesday starting at around 5:30 a.m. Traffic on southbound US Hwy. 51 was slowed for hours after a truck pulling a trailer left the roadway and overturned. The driver was not hurt in the crash. Deputies were on the scene for almost three hours until the vehicle was removed.

A 24-year-old Merrill man was arrested Friday afternoon for violating terms of his probation. A deputy stopped the vehicle the man was driving on E. Main Street in Merrill as he knew he did not have a driver’s license. He was cited for driving on a revoked license and arrested on the hold through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

A 27-year-old Gleason man was arrested Saturday evening on a battery charge. Deputies arrested the man at a residence in the Town of Russell.

A 20-year-old Tomahawk man was arrested Sunday morning after a single vehicle crash in the Town of Bradley at 1:22 a.m. The driver displayed signs of impairment and was cited for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated first offense. He was also arrested on a misdemeanor count of bail jumping for violating a bail bond related to drug possession that required absolute sobriety.

A 45-year-old Merrill man was arrested Sunday evening after deputies responded to a report of disturbance in the Town of Pine River at 8:07 p.m. The man was arrested for disorderly conduct.

Over the weekend 18 traffic incidents were investigated where vehicles slid off the road or crashed. An 18-year-old South Milwaukee man was transported by EMS to Aspirus Wausau Hospital after he crashed his vehicle in the Town of Birch.

With the 9-day gun deer season starting on Saturday you are reminded to be aware of county ordinances as they relate to ATV/UTV usage in restricted areas. Other common violations include people constructing permanent stands or using screw in climbing pegs on county owned property. The Recreational Deputy will be patrolling county lands and enforcing these laws and helping to ensure everyone has a safe season. Further you are reminded to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at you hunting cabin to ensure they are working properly.

The number of car vs deer crashes continues to increase with 25 being reported this past week.

The post Lincoln County Sheriff’s reports appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

november 6
Calls: #1647- Med 62 responded to Center Ave. for a 51 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1648- At 6:09 a.m. Med 62 responded to 6th St. for a CPP, no transport. #1649- At 8:23 a.m. Med 62 responded to Pine Crest for an 88 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1650- At 1:46 p.m. Med 62 responded to O’Day St. for a 94 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1651- At 3:47 p.m. Med 63 responded to Grand Ave. for a 55 year old male with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1652- At 6:15 p.m. Med 62 responded to O’Day St. for a 110 year old female with a CVA, transported to AGSH. #1653- At 9:22 p.m. Med 62 responded to AGSH for a 110 year old female with a medical problem, transported to residence.
Other activities: Fire safety inspections of area businesses.

november 7
Calls: #1655- At 2;05 a.m. Med 62 responded to Spring Lake Rd. for a 67 year old male with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1656- At 11:28 a.m. Med 62 responded to O’Day St. for a 70 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1657- At 9:41 a.m. Med 63 responded to Jackson St. for a 79 year old female with a medical problem, no transport. #1658- At 4:48 p.m. Med 62 responded to Ohio St. for a 41 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1659- At 12:43 p.m. Med 63 responded to PRMS for a 12 year old male with a medical problem, transported to AGSH.
Other Activities: Fire prevention inspections of area businesses.

november 9
Calls: #1665- At 11:03 a.m. Med 62 responded to O’Day St. for a 75 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1666- At 2:54 p.m. Med 62 responded to S. Center Ave. for a 58 year old male with a medical problem, transported to PCNH.
Other Activities: Readings on vertical ventilation in fires.

november 10
Calls: #1667- At 7:37 a.m. Eng 62, Truck 63 and Med 62 responded to Pine Ridge Ave. for a smoke alarm sounding, unknown cause of alarm. #1668- At 8:08 a.m. Eng 62, Truck 63 and Med 62 responded to 8th St. for a chimney fire, personnel extinguished the fire with a 10-lb dry chemical extinguisher. #1669- At 1:53 p.m. Med 62 responded to Grand Ave. for an 88 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1670- At 4:29 p.m. Med 62 responded to 3rd St. for a 16 year old male with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1671- At 8:55 p.m. Med 62, Med 63 and Squad 64 responded to a MVA, no one was injured.
Other activities: Fire prevention inspections of area businesses.

november 11
Calls: #1672- At 10:07 a.m. Med 62 responded to Hwy. 51 for an 18 year old male with a medical problem, transported to Wausau Aspirus. #1673- At 9:56 a.m. Med 62 responded to Grand Ave. for an 84 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1674- At 10:23 a.m. Med 62 responded to Fowler Dr. for a 71 year old male with a medical problem, transported to Aspirus Wausau.
Other activities: Drill on disoriented fire fighters and SCBA buddy breathing.

november 12
Calls: #1675- At 7:18 a.m. Med 62 responded to Foster St. for a 63 year old male with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1676- At 9:51 a.m. Med 62 responded to Martin St. for a 52 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1577- At 4:43 p.m. Med 62 responded to Thielman Rd. for an 81 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1678- At 7:46 p.m. Med 62 responded to State St. for a 49 year old male with a medical problem, transported to AGSH.
Other Activities: Demo various extrication tools from 5 vendors.

The post Merrill Fire Department reports appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

November 12
2:40 p.m.- A crash was reported in the round-about. One driver was cited for operating while suspended. A crash report was completed.

November 13
10:26 a.m.- A male was arrested for a probation violation at the request of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
4:08 p.m.- A male was arrested for a probation violation at the request of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
7:16 p.m.- A caller reported her friend had been visiting and became intoxicated and was refusing to leave her apartment. The caller stated the man became intoxicated and upset with her and he began calling her vulgar names and had over-turned a chair. The man was cited for disorderly conduct.
9:27 p.m.- An officer was informed of a vehicle having open intoxicants in it. The officer made contact in a parking lot with the occupants. The passenger had an open beer claiming he didn’t realize it was illegal for him to have it. He was cited for open intoxicants in a motor vehicle.

November 14
6:39 p.m.- An officer responded to a theft complaint. The caller advised their son either lost his cell phone or it was stolen. The victim had one suspect in mind. Contact was attempted with the suspect without success. Investigation is ongoing.

November 15
10:58 a.m.- An officer responded to an underage tobacco violation. Two students were found to have been using a smoking device in school. They were cited for the violation.
4 p.m.- Officers responded to the office of Probation and Parole to take a male party into custody for a probation violation. He was transported to the jail.
6:01 p.m.- An officer responded to a fraud complaint. The caller had their debit card number used fraudulently. Investigation is ongoing.
8:38 p.m.- An officer responded to a business for a fraud complaint. The suspect had used a $10 bill which had a long piece of tape attached to it to buy fuel. They tried to remove the money back from the machine which caused it to jam. Investigation is ongoing.
11:04 p.m.- Officers responded to a residence to make contact with a male party who had an active warrant for his arrest through another county, per their request. Contact was made with the male and he was taken into custody on the warrant.

The post Merrill Police reports appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

The Merrill Police Department holds an arrest warrant issued 5/14/2018 for Axel James Stewart Hanson, DOB 5/2/1893, last known address N2333 Memorial Dr., Merrill. The city recovered a judgment of $124 for operating without a valid license. The defendant is in default of payment, and must pay the amount or spend 2 days in jail.

The information on this warrant was current as of the time of publication. Anyone with information on Axel James Stewart Hanson should call the Merrill Police Department at 715-536-8311.

The post Merrill Warrant of the Week appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

This week’s featured question was submitted for the Merrill Fire Department:
“Is there anything against burning trash in the city limits in a burn barrel? Like between certain hours or days or whatever, or what can and can’t be burned? Do I need a permit and how much is it?

Answer as given by MFD Battalion Chief Scott Krause:

Merrill Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Krause

“The Merrill Fire Department provides fire protection to the City of Merrill and the Towns of Merrill, Rock Falls and Scott. The city and the townships have different rules when it comes to open burning. The common thread in both areas of service is that the ability to burn is based on the burning restrictions set by the State of Wisconsin DNR Fire Managers. The DNR managers set the fire restrictions daily, based on the current and predicted fire danger for the day and post that information daily at 11 a.m. on the DNR web site (dnr.wi.gov/wisburn).

“Open burning is regulated by the City of Merrill ordinances. Within the City of Merrill open burning; this is defined as burning done outside of a structure. Open burning is prohibited in the city limits without first obtaining a permit from the Fire Chief, with a few exceptions. Those exceptions include small outdoor fires used for cooking, or fires used as parts of a public ceremony. Fires are also allowed in pits, encircled with nonflammable materials, fire rings or commercially built fire containers with a maximum diameter of 42 inches located at least 10 feet from any lot line and any structure. Fires shall be extinguished by 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 12 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

“Special fires or bonfires as allowed only by a permit issued by the Fire Chief. Before starting any fire, a permit authorizing the fire shall first be obtained from the Fire Chief. Open burning permits (within the city limits) are issued at the Merrill Fire Station, 110 Pier St. All open burning shall be performed in a safe, pollution-free manner, when wind and weather conditions are such as to minimize adverse effects, and in conformance with local and state fire protection regulation. Permitted fires shall have the size of the piles of material to be burned shall not exceed four feet in any direction measured horizontally, or three feet measured vertically. The pile of material being burned shall be at least 50 feet away from any structure, wood or lumber pile, wooden fence, tree or bush.

“Open burning shall be supervised by a competent person of at least 16 years of age until the fire is extinguished. The competent person shall have available tools and equipment to use for total control of the fire while burning and/or extinguishing such fire. Any ashes created by burning such material are to be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.
“Other notes of interest for open burning: If a fire becomes out of control, you may be charged a suppression fee. You will be held responsible for any smoke or fire damage caused to anyone one else or their property caused by your controlled or uncontrolled fire. If complaints are received by the Merrill Fire Department, you will be asked to extinguish the fire, if you refuse to extinguish the fire, it will be extinguished by the fire department. The Merrill Fire Department will make any final decisions as it relates to opening burning in the City of Merrill.

“The open burning rules and regulations for the three townships within the Merrill Fire Department response area, Town of Merrill, Town of Rock Falls and Town of Scott are regulated by the State of Wisconsin DNR burn permit process.”

Have a question or concern you would like to address? Simply send your question or concern to jratliff@mmclocal.com along with an indication of which entity your question or concern pertains to. Current participants are the Merrill Police Department, Merrill Fire Department, Tomahawk Police Department, Merrill City Administrator Dave Johnson, Merrill Area Housing Authority Director Paul Russell, Lincoln County Clerk Chris Marlowe, Lincoln County Administrative Coordinator Jason Hake, Lincoln County Forestry Land and Parks Director Kevin Kleinschmidt, Local DNR Conservation Warden Curt Butler and Merrill Area Public Schools (MAPS) Superintendent Dr. John Sample. Please note: Those who submit to the ‘Ask an Official’ feature remain anonymous.

The post Ask an Official: MFD discusses open burning appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

The Merrill Police Department holds an arrest warrant issued 5/14/2018 for Axel James Stewart Hanson, DOB 5/2/1983, last known address N2333 Memorial Dr., Merrill. The city recovered a judgment of $124 for operating without a valid license. The defendant is in default of payment, and must pay the amount or spend 2 days in jail.

The information on this warrant was current as of the time of publication. Anyone with information on Axel James Stewart Hanson should call the Merrill Police Department at 715-536-8311.

The post Merrill Police Department Warrant of the Week appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

A 34-year-old Gleason man, currently a resident of the Lincoln County Jail, will face additional charges after he battered a corrections officer on Monday. Two corrections officers had entered a cell block for a wellness check when the inmate attacked, kicking one of them in the head. Charges will be referred to the Lincoln County District Attorney charging the inmate with battery by prisoner, disorderly conduct, two counts of misdemeanor bail jumping and one count of felony bail jumping. The corrections officer was treated and released from a local emergency room after the incident.

A 55-year-old Merrill man was arrested early Thursday morning on a warrant charge. A deputy stopped the man on 9th Street in the city of Merrill and learned he was wanted by the Merrill Municipal Court for failing to pay a fine.

A 50-year-old Merrill woman was arrested Thursday evening on multiple warrants. A deputy was investigating another matter at a business in the Town of Merrill when he recognized the woman and knew she was wanted. The woman was arrested on warrants through Lincoln and Marathon counties and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

The Rec. Deputy reported a normal opening weekend with an average number of hunters using county lands. Several contacts were made with hunters who were in violation of ordinances and laws. The most common contacts again involved use of off road vehicles in restricted areas, driving ATVs without lights or licenses attached and the use of illegal stands on county lands. He also had contact with several hunters who were violating the baiting laws. No injuries were reported to any hunter this opening weekend but firefighters from Merrill and deputies responded to a tree stand that caught fire Saturday just before 1 p.m. on Olivotti Lake Road in the Town of Merrill. The hunter told deputies he had a wood fire going earlier but was out of the stand when it caught fire. The stand was destroyed.

A 66-year-old California man was arrested Saturday evening on a warrant charge. A deputy stopped the vehicle the man was driving on State Rd. 64 in the Town of Pine River. A check showed the man from Covina, CA was wanted by the Merrill Municipal Court for contempt.

Two people suffered serious injuries after a single vehicle crash Saturday evening in the Town of Tomahawk. The driver and passenger were taken to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital by private auto after they rolled their vehicle on State Rd. 86 at Spirit View Road early Sunday morning. The passenger, a 21-year-old Tripoli man, and the driver, a 20-year-old Tomahawk man, were both transferred to the trauma center at Aspirus with serious injuries. Deputies suspect speed and alcohol played a factor in the incident.

Twenty one deer crashes were reported this past week, all but five occurred prior to the start of the gun deer season. A bear was found struck early Friday evening on County Rd. Q east of County Rd. K in the Town of Scott, later that night a second bear was struck on US Hwy. 51 south of County Rd. K in the Town of Birch.

The post Lincoln County Sheriff’s reports appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

November 16
3:32 p.m.- An officer took a report of a violation of a court order as it pertained to visitation with child. It was found that male subject had failed to follow the rules set in place by the court. He will be referred to the District Attorney for possible charges.

November 17
1:56 a.m.- An officer conducted a traffic stop on East Main Street after the vehicle was observed traveling on East Main Street without any headlamps activated. The operator displayed signs indicative of impairment and was placed through field sobriety tests. Based off of those tests, the male subject was arrested for operating while under the influence 3rd offense.
6:31 p.m.- An officer conducted a traffic stop on an ATV that was traveling on a non-designated route. The operator of the ATV was found to have never completed an ATV safety course. The operator was cited for operation without ATV safety certificate.

November 18
9:23 a.m.- An officer responded to a report of a vehicle being vandalized. Investigation is ongoing.

The post Merrill Police reports appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

Jeremy Ratliff
Reporter

This year marks 33 years of service for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office’s (LISO) Special Response Team (SRT).
Back in 1985, following a federal court ruling, members of the Chippewa native american tribe began exercising their right to spearfish in ceded territories, prompting protests at boat landings in northern Wisconsin. Lincoln County’s SRT was formed that summer by then Chief Deputy Bob Lee, with its initial mission to assist in responding to incidents of civil unrest related to Native American spearfishing.
“They didn’t have the equipment they do now,” remembers former sheriff and current Lincoln County Coroner Paul Proulx, “but they made the best of what they had. I remember when the team was first started, they used a school bus for their transport vehicle. They gutted the bus and modified it as best they could for their purpose. And I must say they did a pretty darn good job with it, they made it as functional and useful as possible for what they needed.”
Retiring Sheriff Jeff Jaeger was a member of the first team consisting of seven deputies.
“So much has changed now, compared to when the team was first formed in ‘85,” Jaeger explains. “The biggest difference was we weren’t really as organized as the team is now. The concept of any sort of organized, specially trained team was unheard of back then. But when the protests about spearfishing began to heat up, other agencies asked for volunteers to respond to the unrest mainly for crowd control. So that’s what Chief Deputy Lee asked of our agency; for anyone who was willing to volunteer for some specialized training and respond to the unrest. That’s what we did. Our training was primarily in crowd control and disbursement.”
When the unrest settled, sheriff’s office administration saw value in the future of the response team and decided to make it a permanent element of the sheriff’s office, complete with regulations and policies regarding membership, training and response.
Along with the evolution of training and standards for the Lincoln County SRT, is that of equipment. The most recent addition being that of a new armored Bearcat response and rescue vehicle, in early October.

While there are many variations and names given for such specially trained units; ranging from SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) to Critical Response Unit (CRU) they share identical, or very similar goals; to enhance or complement overall effectiveness of law enforcement services and respond to unusual occurrences or activities.
“When you’re at home and you find yourself in a situation you aren’t prepared to handle, you call the police,” explains former LISO SRT commander Ken Schneider (2006-2016). “The same applies to SRT and law enforcement. When patrol officers or deputies find themselves in a situation they aren’t prepared to handle, they call for the assistance of the SRT. The SRT is a team of highly trained deputies who can and will respond to a variety of circumstances from a high-risk situation involving an armed person to a mass casualty incident or a rescue operation.”
Since its inception, the team has grown to now include 10 members (team leader, assistant team leader and eight entry team members). The team is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. While some instances may require all 10 members to respond, that is not always the case. The number of members necessary for response depends on the nature of the incident at hand. While the execution of a search warrant may only call for a handful of SRT members to respond, a mass casualty incident or critical response incident could call for the entire team to respond, and even the possibility of calling on assistance from neighboring agencies.
In addition, the team is complemented by five crisis negotiators, each being graduates of the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation School. The team now trains on a monthly basis with a goal of at least 100 hours of training per year, often times with teams from surrounding agencies. Each training session can last from 8-10 hours and covers a variety of criteria including; room clearing, woodland searches, executing search warrants, hostage rescue, critical/high-risk incident response and rescue operations.
“Given the rural landscape and terrain of our county, a strong emphasis has always been placed on land navigation, even from the early days when I was a member,” Jaeger explains.
That emphasis paid off on Dec. 28, 1989 when a private plane was thought to have crashed in Marathon County but was later discovered to have crashed in the Newwood area of Lincoln County. The sheriff’s office’s SRT was one of the first units to respond to the scene. The team would prove instrumental in the coordination and execution of search and rescue efforts.
“That was really a defining time for the team I think,” Jaeger adds. “That was one of the first large scale incidents the SRT had really been called upon to assist with, and its value was truly realized.”
While no specific tracking regarding the number of SRT responses over the years is kept, Jaeger indicates the team has responded to well over 200 incidents since formed 33 years ago.
Key incidents of note the team has responded to recently, include active shooter incidents in the Village of Weston on March 22, 2017 and the Town of Pine River on July 26, 2016.
The March 2017 incident resulted in the death of Everest Metropolitan Police Department Detective Jason Weiland. During that incident, the Lincoln County SRT was first on-scene and operated in conjunction with other teams from Marathon and Oneida counties. As a result of their efforts, the Lincoln County team was jointly recognized as co-SWAT Team of the Year along with the Oneida and Marathon county teams, by the Association of SWAT Personnel.
The July 2016 incident occurred on Hillview Road south of Merrill in the Town of Pine River. The incident was initiated by the actions of 50-year-old Scott Minard of Eagle River. Minard reportedly shot at a City of Antigo Police Officer in the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 26, before fleeing and leading law enforcement officers on a pursuit into Lincoln County where he was eventually confronted on Hillview Road.
As current LISO SRT commander Lieutenant Andy VanderWyst explains, incidents such as those in 2016 and 2017 are rare, but overall incidents involving armed persons requiring the response of Special Response Teams is on the rise as of late.
“The idea of people being armed isn’t new by any means,” he said. “It’s a matter of a certain segment of our population willing to use their firearms to threaten the welfare of others, while being defiant toward law enforcement.”
Regardless of the incident at hand, from search and rescue efforts to responding to active shooter incidents, Jaeger and VanderWyst agree; the end-goal remains the same.
“The ultimate goal with each and every SRT response is to bring a peaceful resolution to an incident and assure the safety of both bystanders and those directly involved.”

The post Sheriff’s Office SRT closes in on 40 years of service appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

The following cases were heard in Merrill and Tomahawk Municipal Court Nov. 12, 2018.

Disorderly Conduct
Dominique D. Banks, Merrill, $136.60. Donna C. Matthiae, Merrill, $136.60. Joan L. Sodini, Merrill, $136.60.

Violate traffic signal
Matthew G. Scheures, Schofield, $98.80.

Operate after suspension
Sandra M. Bean, Merrill, $124. Noah V.A. Karau, Merrill, $313. Jason A. Knudsen, Merrill, $124. Michael W. Wienandt, Wausau, $124.

Speeding
Raymond R. Buralli, Rhinelander, $98.80.

Innatentive driving
Michael R. Broeking, Wausau, $111.40.

Non-Registration of Auto
Anna C. Altman, Gleason, $98.80. Jonathon J. Krispin, Merrill, $98.80. Robert E. Le Page, Merrill, $98.80. Hannah M. Schmidtke, Merrill, $98.80. Ryan A. Taylor, Merrill, $98.80.

Violation of Noise Ordinance
Jimmie P. McGuire, Merrill, $136.60.

Operate MV without insurance
Joseph M. Busterud, Merrill, $124. Cody J. Davidson, Merrill, $124. Sara E. Barker, Merrill, $124.

The post Municipal Court appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

november 13
Calls: #1679- At 7:25 a.m. Med 62 responded to O’Day St. for a 37 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1680- At 4:44 p.m. Med 62 responded to Jackson St. for a shortness of breath, transported to AGSH. #1681- At 6:13 p.m. Eng 62 responded to O’Day St. for a report of a fire alarm sounding, no fire found.
Other activities: Fire safety inspections of area businesses.

november 14
Calls: #1682- At 7;15 a.m. Med 62 responded to O’Day St. for an 84 year old male with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1683- At 12:28 p.m. Med 62 responded to Logan Ave. for a 40 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1684- At 10:04 p.m. Med 63 responded to East St. for a 76 year old female with a medical problem, no transport. #1685- At 11:20 p.m. Med 62, Eng 62, and Truck 63 responded to Jackson St. for a structure fire, fire was put out before arrival.
Other activities: Fire prevention inspections of area businesses.

november 16
Calls: #1687- At 7:03 a.m. Med 62, Eng 62 and Truck 63 responded to Grand Ave. for an alarm sounding, found that nearby construction started alarm. #1688- At 12:34 p.m. Med 62 responded to Pope Rd. for an 82 year old male with a medical problem, no transport.
Other activities: Readings on vertical ventilation in fires.

november 17
Calls: #1689- At 7:37 a.m. Eng 62, Truck 63 and Med 62 responded to Lake Dr. for a deer stand started on fire. No one was in the stand, and fire was extinguished.

november 18
Calls: #1690- At 10:07 a.m. Med 62, Eng 62 and Truck 63 responded to Kate Goodrich Elementary for a fire alarm, no fire was found, fire alarm reset.
Other activities: Drill on disoriented fire fighters and SCBA buddy breathing.

november 19
Calls: #1691- At 5:42 a.m. Med 62 responded to 1st St. for a 54 year old male with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1692- At 3:47 p.m. Med 62 responded to Pine Crest for a 52 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH. #1593- At 1:13 p.m. Med 62 responded to State St. for an 81 year old female with a medical problem, transported to AGSH.
Other activities: Demo various extrication tools from five vendors.

The post Merrill Fire Department reports appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

November 16
3:32 p.m.- An officer took a report of a violation of a court order as it pertained to visitation with child. It was found that a male subject had failed to follow the rules set in place by the court. He will be referred to the District Attorney for possible charges.

November 17
1:56 a.m.- An officer conducted a traffic stop on East Main Street after the vehicle was observed traveling on East Main Street without any headlamps activated. The operator displayed signs indicative of impairment and was placed through field sobriety tests. Based off of those tests, the male subject was arrested for operating while under the influence 3rd offense.
6:31 p.m.- An officer conducted a traffic stop on an ATV that was traveling on a non-designated route. The operator of the ATV was found to have never completed an ATV safety course. The operator was cited for operation without ATV safety certificate.

November 18
9:23 a.m.- An officer responded to a report of a vehicle being vandalized. Investigation is ongoing.

November 19
4:44 p.m.- Officers took a report of a possible domestic disturbance that had taken place earlier. Officers investigated and this matter will be referred to the Lincoln County District Attorney for review and possible charges.
9:46 p.m.- Officers took a report of a possible hit and run crash that had occurred at East Main and Nast streets involving a street sign. The suspect vehicle was located and the operator advised that they had fallen asleep. No signs of impairment were noted and he was cited for inattentive driving.

November 20
12:15 a.m.- Officers responded to a report of a fight in progress outside of a bar on Grand Avenue. When officers arrived on scene all parties involved had left. Officers made contact with the bartender. The bartender advised that a male party had come into the bar and was causing a problem. He had stood on top of the bar and was walking on the bar crushing the cigarette packs of other patrons that were drinking at the bar. The male party was told to get down and that he would be offered a safe ride and water only while he waited for a ride. The male party went outside and allegedly was involved in an argument with four other unknown males and an unknown female. While speaking with the bartender the male party returned to the bar and officers made contact. He denied any fight occurring but admitted to standing on the bar and causing an unwanted scene. The male party was cited for disorderly conduct.
8:30 a.m.- Officers responded to an address on Matthews Street to attempt to locate an individual who was known to have a warrant through probation and parole. That party was located and taken into custody for that warrant.
9 p.m.- Officers responded to an address on Division Street for a report of a male and female yelling and making banging sound in their apartment. Officers stood outside the residence and could hear the yelling and banging sounds from the street. The parties were identified and stated that no argument was taking place but that the female party was just acting out to be obnoxious and did not realize that she was being that loud. No physical altercation was taking place at the residence.

November 22
7:39 p.m.- An officer was attempting to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle when the driver quickly parked and fled from the location. The driver was not located but was able to be identified and contact will be made at later time.

November 23
2:11 p.m.- An officer responded to a two vehicle crash. One vehicle had failed to stop at a stop sign and struck another vehicle. That driver was cited for failure to yield right of way from a stop sign causing injury and non-registration of auto.
6:11 p.m.- Officers responded to a domestic disturbance. The caller stated her daughter was out of control at the residence, had pushed her and pulled her hair. Contact was made with the caller who stated she also had a cup thrown at her which grazed her face. The female suspect was located down the street. The female suspect was placed under arrest for domestic disorderly conduct.

November 25
8:42 a.m.- An officer responded to a juvenile complaint. The parent, who called, advised their son was smoking salvia. Contact was made with the juvenile who admitted to smoking the product. The juvenile was referred for Possession of a Schedule I drug, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
5:34 p.m.- Officers were out speaking with a female and three small children on E. 6th St. when a vehicle drove by the location at a very high rate of speed. An officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and the driver was cited for speed.

The post Merrill Police reports appeared first on Merrill Foto News.

Following a 911 call, A 51-year-old Merrill man was arrested Monday evening when deputies responded to a disturbance in the Town of Merrill at 10:30 p.m. The man was arrested for disorderly conduct and battery.

A 75-year-old Tomahawk man was cited Tuesday morning for a first offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. A deputy found a vehicle off the roadway on County Rd. U in the Town of Bradley that had crashed.

A 23-year-old Antigo man was cited early Thursday morning after a deputy stopped to check on a vehicle in the Town of Pine River at 2:35 a.m. The driver showed signs of impairment and was taken into custody for a first offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Deputies later found where the vehicle left the roadway and crashed near County Rd. X.

A 62-year-old Merrill woman was injured Friday evening after falling from an elevated deer stand in the Town of Corning. A 911 call at 5:45 p.m. reported the incident after the woman was found by a relative. The woman was flown by Life Link III helicopter to the trauma center at Marshfield Medical Center.

A 21-year-old Tomahawk man was arrested Sunday evening on a warrant charge. A deputy stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation and learned the passenger was wanted on a misdemeanor warrant in Oneida County charging him with attempted theft and criminal damage to property.

Twenty people reported striking deer this past week. A Price County driver reported striking a turkey Friday night on US Hwy. 8 east of Tripoli.

The post Lincoln County Sheriff’s reports appeared first on Merrill Foto News.