Lincoln County Sheriff's reports

A 28 year old Tomahawk woman was injured Tuesday morning after a one vehicle rollover on US Hwy 51 in the Town of Birch. Just after 7 a.m. cell 911 calls reported the incident just north of County Rd J. Katie J. Heikkinen was traveling on US Hwy 51 when she lost control on snowy roadways and rolled her vehicle. She was transported by Merrill EMS to Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center for non-life threatening injuries. Town of Russell Firefighters also responded to the scene.

Deputies checked a couple of other slide offs on US Hwy 51 within an hour of the first crash. A second roll over occurred near County Rd S on US Hwy 51 but no injuries were reported. During the evening commute deputies investigated several other crashes, none of which involved any injury.

A 33 year old Merrill man is in the Lincoln County Jail after being arrested for bail jumping. Deputies were seeking Daniel J. Catlin after they learned he provided false information during an investigation involving a theft case. On Friday officers from the Merrill Police Department located Catlin at his Main Street home and took him into custody on two misdemeanor counts of bail jumping. Unable to post bond Catlin was held over the weekend for a bond hearing on Monday in Lincoln County Court.

During the early morning hours of Friday deputies from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office investigated a reported sexual assault at an establishment in the Town of Merrill. The victim and several witnesses were interviewed and the suspect and his two companions were located and interviewed Friday evening. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. This incident prompted several rumors being circulated via social media that women were in danger or a group was preying on female bartenders in the Merrill area. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office wishes to assure the public there is no danger and all parties involved are cooperating fully with the investigation.

A 27 year old Tomahawk man was arrested Friday evening after a deputy investigated a crash in the Town of Bradley. Just after 7 p.m. a cell caller reported a two vehicle crash on State Rd 86 near West Kraft Rd which occurred after the vehicles tried to avoid pigs that were running loose. When the deputy made contact with the pig owner Joshua E. Merrigan a check found he was wanted by the Oneida County Sheriff for contempt of court. Merrigan was cited for having animals at large and then taken into custody for the warrant. He was transported to the Oneida County line where he was turned over to a deputy there.

Two men will be facing DNR citations after deputies responded to a possible poaching complaint in the Town of Merrill on Saturday night. Just after 7 p.m. a caller phoned the Sheriff's Office and complained that a shot had been fired in the 2000 block of Swede Rd and a short time later a pickup truck went into the field and picked up a deer. When deputies arrived on the scene the 20 year old Merrill man and 36 year old Ogema man were skinning out a spike buck. The two told the deputy that the deer had been shot earlier in the day with a bow and they were just target practicing after that. When Wardens from the DNR arrived and examined the deer carcass the pair admitted they shot the deer after targeting it with a spotlight. The entire investigation was turned over to the DNR who also confiscated the 30/30 rifle and buck that was shot.

A 23 year old Wausau man was arrested Saturday evening on a warrant charge. Deputies went to County Rd H at Horseshoe Lake Rd after a one vehicle rollover was reported to 911 at 8:11 p.m. Deputies learned the driver of the vehicle a 24 year old Tomahawk woman had swerved to miss a deer and rolled her vehicle over. No one was injured in the crash but a check on the passenger Cameron K. Beeney showed he was wanted by the Marathon County Sheriff for contempt of court. Beeney was brought to the Lincoln County Jail where he was held until Sunday when he was returned to Marathon County.

As the annual gun deer season approaches the Rec. Deputy is reminding sports enthusiasts of the laws pertaining to county and private land. Three people are already facing trespassing citations after they entered private land and erected tree stands this past week outside of Tomahawk. The most common violations on county land are ATV's traveling in restricted areas, erecting tree stands or using climbing pegs that damage trees. Hunters should also be aware that thieves are once again targeting tree stands. A few reports were received this week of heaters being stolen out of tree stands. The Rec. Deputy will be patrolling the county forest land throughout the nine day deer season and will also be working with DNR Wardens to ensure everyone has a safe hunt.

The number of car deer crashes is down slightly with only 19 being reported this past week. Sheriff Jaeger is urging motorists to use caution as the crashes are becoming more much more common as the rut continues. Also it is darker an hour earlier as you make your commute home increasing your chances of striking an animal.