A deputy investigated and referred a victim to the FBI after a 19 year old Merrill man lost $500 after speaking to a woman via Skype Tuesday night. The victim met the woman online in a chat room and she invited him to join her in a Skype conversation. After talking to the woman the victim exposed himself on his camera. Afterward the woman told the man if he did not wire her $500 she would post the video on the internet for everyone to see. The man wired the woman the money and a short time later she demanded another $500. When the victim tried to stop the first transfer of funds he learned the cash was already picked up in the Philippines.
A 61 year old Tomahawk man was cited after deputies responded to a possible break-in in the Town of Bradley early Thursday morning. Deputies learned whoever crashed a vehicle on Schmidtbauer Rd broke into a nearby house. When contact was made with the vehicle owner Eugene A. Danielson he initially told deputies his daughter was driving the vehicle when it crashed and she had sought refuge in the neighboring home due to the cold weather. Danielson told the deputies since the crash his daughter had returned to the Milwaukee area. After being confronted with evidence Danielson admitted he was driving the vehicle in a reckless manner when he lost control of it and struck a tree. Danielson was taken into custody for a first offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. He was later released to a responsible party. The neighboring home owner did not want to pursue charges in that matter.
Town of Russell firefighters along with a deputy responded to a chimney fire Thursday evening outside of Gleason. At 7:40 a 911 call reported the fire on Gross Lane. Firefighters were on the scene for about half an hour. No injuries or damage was reported.
Two Merrill men; brothers, are in the Lincoln County Jail after a deputy investigated a report of a possible impaired driver. An off duty Marathon County deputy advised he saw a vehicle leave a tavern on County Rd K in the Town of Maine just before midnight on Thursday and he believed the driver was impaired. As a Lincoln County deputy checked roadways leading into the county a Merrill Police Officer spotted the suspect’s vehicle at an establishment on the west side of the city. When a deputy arrived in the area he saw the vehicle leave the establishment and noted the driver had no seat belt on. When contact was made with the driver, 36 year old Edward T. Schoerner, he noted he had been drinking in violation of his probation rules. Schoerner was placed through field sobriety tests and taken into custody on a felony sixth offense charge of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated along with felony bail jumping, operating after revocation as a repeat offender and probation violation. His passenger, 32 year old Frank A. Schoerner, was found to be drinking in violation of his probation rules and he was jailed for the offense as well. Officers from the Merrill Police Department assisted with the arrests.
A 26 year old Hatley man was arrested early Saturday morning after a deputy investigated a crash in the Town of Bradley. At 4:44 a.m. a resident on Spirit Haven Rd reported his mailbox was struck and a 2002 Ford Mustang was sitting in his yard. The deputy found paperwork in the vehicle which led him to a neighboring home where he found Brandon Lee De Simons sleeping. De Simons admitted striking the mailbox hours earlier. A check showed he did not have a driver’s license and he was wanted by the Marathon County Sheriff for contempt of court. De Simons was brought to the Lincoln County Jail where he was cited for failing to notify police of a crash, and driving without a driver’s license. He was able to post a cash bond for the warrant and was released.
Pine River firefighters and a deputy responded Saturday evening for a possible chimney fire. A 911 call reported the incident on Robl Ave at 6:58 p.m. When firefighters arrived they reported the fire was out. Firefighters returned to the station within half an hour.
A 22 year old Saukville woman is in critical condition after a one vehicle crash early Sunday morning in the Town of Schley. Just before 1 a.m., a cell caller reported a vehicle rolled over on County Rd C west of County Rd X. The caller reported no one was around the vehicle but when a deputy arrived on the scene he found the driver Kristie M. Poncek had been ejected from the vehicle. Poncek was transported by Merrill EMS to Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center where the Spirit Helicopter was waiting. From there Poncek was flown to the trauma center at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Deputies do not know at what time the crash occurred but Poncek’s condition by the sub-zero temperatures were worsened. The Pine River First Responders assisted at the scene. The investigation into the crash continues and the Wisconsin State Patrol has been called in to assist.
A 21 year old Tomahawk man was arrested Sunday afternoon after deputies went to an address in the Town of Schley. Deputies had been looking for Travis Bruce Cardinal after they found his vehicle crashed Sunday morning on US Hwy 51 at County Rd A in Tomahawk. A check showed Cardinal was wanted by the Taylor County Sheriff for contempt of court. He was located at an address on County Rd X just after 2 p.m. and taken into custody. Cardinal was brought to the Lincoln/Taylor County line and turned over to a deputy there.
Deputies will be putting on extra miles this week keeping an eye for stranded motorists with the expected cold weather. Seventeen disabled vehicles were checked on this week and deputies remind motorists to have a cell phone and emergency cold weather kit available as they travel this week.
Only four people reported striking deer this past week with three of those crashes occurring on Friday.