Lincoln County Sheriff's reports

The Merrill Fire Department along with the DNR and a deputy responded to a forest fire on Monday afternoon in the Town of Rock Falls. Just after noon a cell caller reported the fire on Tug Lake Rd just west of Resort Lane. According to the deputy's report the fire was caused by a cabin owner dumping hot ashes outside. Firefighters from the DNR remained on the scene for some time conducting mop up.

Tomahawk firefighters along with the DNR and a deputy responded to the Town of Bradley after a grass fire was reported Monday evening. Just before 5:30 p.m. a cell 911 call reported the fire on Daoust Rd. According to the deputy's report the fire started when a man burning garbage left it unattended. Firefighters were on the scene for over an hour.

A 46 year old Tomahawk woman was arrested early Wednesday morning after a deputy investigated a theft complaint in the Town of Bradley. A resident reported that Sheri A. Gavin entered a home and damaged items and stole a third person's property. The reporting party showed the deputy a text message that Gavin sent to him confirming what she had done. Gavin was located a couple of hours later at an establishment in the City of Tomahawk. She was taken into custody on charges of theft and criminal damage to property. She was brought to the Lincoln County Jail where she was held for a bond hearing. She was released by the court on a signature bond.

Tomahawk Firefighters with the assistance of Nokomis Firefighters responded to a structure fire Thursday evening in the Town of Bradley. A 911 call reported the fire on Sunset Point Rd at 7:51 p.m. When firefighters arrived on the scene they found heavy smoke coming from the residence. Homeowner Tom Thompson told a deputy that he observed a hot spot in the ceiling of a bedroom near where the exhaust for the wood burning stove vents. Firefighters were on the scene for over two hours.

A 26 year old Milton, WI man was taken into custody early Saturday morning on a traffic charge. A deputy stopped to check on a vehicle that was stopped on the side of County Rd A south of US Hwy 8 just before 1 a.m. In speaking with Michael T. Matkowski the deputy noted the smell of intoxicants coming from him. Matkowski was asked to perform field sobriety tests and as a result was taken into custody for a first offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. He was later released to a responsible party.

A 26 year old West Bend man is in the Lincoln County Jail after deputies responded to a disturbance call in the Town of Skanawan early Sunday morning after a 911 reported a disturbance at an establishment. The original call reported a man was injured and requested an ambulance respond to the scene. When deputies arrived they learned the victim, a 42 year old West Bend man, had suffered serious injuries and was transported by Tomahawk EMS to Ministry Sacred Heart Hospital. The suspect had fled prior to deputies arriving on the scene but just after 9:30 a.m. a caller reported the suspect had left a motel in Tomahawk and was traveling south on US Hwy 51. A deputy located the vehicle being driven by Robert C. Arms and stopped it at the County Rd K exit. Arms was taken into custody on a felony charge of substantial battery along with violating his probation rules. Arms was brought to the Lincoln County Jail where he remained pending a bond hearing on Monday in Lincoln County Court.

The number of car deer crashes has decreased with only 11 being reported this past week. Three people struck bear this past week. On Tuesday at 6 a.m. an Arbor Vitae man struck a bear on US Hwy 51 near County Rd H in the Town of Birch. The vehicle sustained considerable damage and had to be towed from the scene. On Tuesday evening a Merrill man struck and killed a bear on State Rd 64 near Deer Run Rd in the Town of Pine River. On Wednesday a Tomahawk man struck and killed a bear on US Hwy 51 near County Rd S.