A 25-year-old Merrill man was taken into custody Monday afternoon after a deputy found a hit and run suspect. Merrill PD officers had responded to a crash at East First and Scott streets in the City of Merrill and reported the suspect had crossed the centerline, struck another vehicle and then fled the scene. A few minutes later a deputy was coming into the city on State Rd. 64 east when he spotted a vehicle matching the suspect’s description that had substantial front end damage. The vehicle was stopped near the intersection of State Rd. 64 and Pine Ridge Avenue and the deputy noted immediately the smell of intoxicants coming from the driver. He was taken into custody for a first offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and later turned over to Merrill Police officers who had additional criminal and traffic charges.
A 32-year-old Tomahawk man was arrested early Wednesday morning on a warrant charge. A deputy stopped a vehicle on Somo Avenue in the City of Tomahawk and discovered the driver was wanted for contempt of court. The man was taken into custody and then brought to the Oneida County line where he was turned over to an Oneida County deputy.
On Wednesday morning, a 40-year-old Rhinelander man was arrested after a request was received from the Oneida County Sheriff. Deputies in Oneida County advised they had received information that the man who was wanted on a felony charge for failing to report for a jail sentence was staying at a residence on Park Lane in the Town of Bradley. Deputies from Lincoln County found the man at the home just after 11 a.m. and he was brought to the county line and turned over to an Oneida County deputy.
A 41-year-old Merrill man was arrested early Thursday morning on a criminal traffic charge after law enforcement responded to a report of a vehicle off the roadway. Just before 2:30 a.m., a passerby reported almost being struck by a pickup truck that failed to stop at a stop sign and went into the ditch. Officers from the Merrill Police Department were the first on the scene at State Rd. 64 and Mill Road in the Town of Scott. The driver told the officers that he had too much to drink before he was placed through field sobriety tests. As a result of those tests, the man was arrested for a third offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. The man was booked into the Lincoln County Jail but was released the next afternoon when he was sober.
Three people were arrested at the Lincoln County Courthouse this past week on outstanding warrants. On Thursday afternoon a 19-year-old Merrill man appeared for a plea and sentencing but a check showed he was wanted by the Marathon County Sheriff for contempt of court. The man was brought to the jail where he was released after posting a cash bond. On Friday morning a 19-year-old Wisconsin Rapids man was arrested on a warrant through the Green Bay Police Department. He was also able to post bond and be released. On Friday an 18-year-old Athens man was arrested on a Marathon County warrant for contempt. He was brought to the county line and turned over to a Marathon County deputy.
A 35-year-old Merrill man was arrested on Thursday afternoon after authorities from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections requested assistance with an investigation. Probation and Parole agents told deputies that they had received information that the man, who is a convicted felon, had firearms in his residence. Deputies checked and found both a rifle and a pistol inside of the home. The man was later located at his place of employment in the Town of Scott and was arrested on a probation violation charge. He was brought to the Lincoln County Jail where he remains.
The Town of Pine River Fire Department was called out on Saturday afternoon for a reported structure fire. At 1:19 p.m. a cell caller reported a fire inside of a multi-use pole building at W2516 Center Rd. Firefighters from Pine River, Russell, Merrill, Hewitt, and the Town of Texas all responded. When deputies and firefighters arrived they found the fire had begun on one of the walls near a wood burner. Pine River firefighters extinguished the fire and checked the building for fire extension before clearing about an hour later. The owner reported no damage to the contents of the building and no injuries were reported.
A 43-year-old Merrill man was arrested Saturday afternoon on a misdemeanor bail jumping charge. A deputy went out on Lake Alexander in the Town of Harding after a caller reported the suspect was attending the races and drinking. A bail bond issued in December in Lincoln County Court prohibits the man from drinking alcohol. The man was found out on the ice and admitted to drinking. He was brought to the Lincoln County jail and held for an initial court appearance on Monday.
An 18-year-old Tomahawk man was cited on Sunday afternoon after a deputy stopped a vehicle for crossing over the center line. At 3:35 p.m. the vehicle was observed traveling on Somo Avenue and the deputy noted it kept crossing the fog and center line. When contact was made with the driver he was placing what was later found to be a partially filled beer can in the vehicles glove compartment. The driver was placed through field sobriety tests before being taken into custody for a first offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. He was later released to a responsible party.
The number of car deer crashes more than double from last week’s total with seven being reported.