Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Reports: SEPT. 29-OCT. 25, 2026

Sept. 29, 2026
Deputies were sent to the area of CTH Z and STH 107 and 64 in the Town of Corning for a two-vehicle crash with injuries after a report that a passenger in one of the vehicles had a bloody nose and was not making sense. Deputies found the driver of the first vehicle, Luke Bean of Tuscaloosa, Ala., had been traveling west on CTH Z and failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of STH 107 and 64. The second vehicle, driven by Oscar Flores of Merrill, had been traveling north on STH 107 when it struck the first vehicle on the driver’s side. A passenger in the first vehicle, Michael Hayden of Mobile, Ala., was found to have sustained more serious injuries than initially thought. He was transported by ground ambulance to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where he later died. The sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by Corning Fire Department and First Responders, as well as Merrill Fire Department and Ambulance and Rod’s Wrecker.
Deputies were sent to the area of USH 51 near mile marker 218 in the Town of Rock Falls for a disturbance in progress. The suspect, Kurt Hungerford of Seymour, was driving on USH 51 when his car suffered a flat tire. When he pulled to the side of the road, his son, Matthew Hungerford, also of Seymour, who was a passenger in the vehicle, got out to help change the tire. While changing the tire, the two got into an argument, and Kurt Hungerford began screaming and threatening to physically harm his son. The disturbance turned physical when Kurt Hungerford pushed his son out of the car and drove off with his son’s child still inside. A short time later, he was located by Merrill Police Department officers at the Kwik Trip on Pine Ridge Boulevard Hungerford refused to speak with officers and was advised he was under arrest. He actively fought with officers and resisted their efforts to take him into custody. Officers were required to use force to get him into custody. He was turned over to a sheriff’s deputy, who took him to Aspirus Merrill Hospital for medical clearance. He was later transported to the Lincoln County Jail and booked for second-degree recklessly endangering safety, battery or threat to a judge, disorderly conduct, and resisting or obstructing an officer.

Oct. 2, 2026
The sheriff’s office received multiple 911 calls about a reckless driver reported to be traveling on USH 51 near mile marker 209, weaving in both lanes of traffic and driving at variable speeds. Before deputies arrived, the suspect drove his vehicle into a ditch, and witnesses were able to detain him until law enforcement arrived. A deputy noticed signs of impairment in the driver, Kurtiss Gilbert of Eau Claire, who was asked to perform sobriety tests and refused. During the contact, Gilbert lunged at the deputy in what the deputy believed was an attempt to tackle or disarm him. The deputy was able to get Gilbert to the ground and take him into custody. He was taken to the Lincoln County Jail and booked for a first-offense OWI charge and battery or threat to a judge.

Weekly activity
For the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 4, deputies conducted 10 traffic stops and 19 security checks and responded to nine car-versus-deer crashes and one car-versus-bear crash.

Oct. 9, 2026
Deputies were sent to the area of USH 51 and CTH K in the Town of Birch for a driving complaint after a report that a black Chevy truck was weaving all over the road. Deputies located the suspect vehicle with the help of other motorists who were driving with their hazard lights on, and it was stopped on Hillside Drive at CTH K. The deputy made contact with the driver, Tyler Glass of Merrill, and noticed signs of impairment. Glass agreed to perform sobriety tests, and as a result, he was arrested on a second-offense OWI charge. He was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and turned over to corrections staff.

Oct. 11, 2026

Merrill Police Department officers and sheriff’s deputies were sent to the 400 block of West Main Street in the City of Merrill for a driving complaint after a report that a white Ford truck had nearly struck another vehicle and was weaving all over the road. The reporting party followed the suspect vehicle until officers were able to locate it. A sheriff’s deputy found the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop at Mill Street and CTH Z. The deputy made contact with the driver, Jade Brehm of Merrill, and noticed signs of impairment. Brehm agreed to perform sobriety tests, and as a result, she was arrested on a second-offense OWI charge; a preliminary breath test at the scene indicated she was four times over the legal limit. Due to other emergency calls, she was released to a responsible party. She faces charges of operating while revoked, second-offense OWI, and failing to install an ignition interlock device.
Deputies were sent to an address on STH 86 in the Town of Tomahawk for a report of a physical disturbance in which a young child was present. The first deputy in the area reported hearing what sounded like gunshots but was unsure whether they were related. When deputies arrived, the suspect, Scott Hoffman of Tomahawk, had fled on foot. After a brief search, deputies, with the assistance of a Tomahawk Police Department officer, located him and took him into custody. He was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and booked for resisting or obstructing an officer, a probation violation, misdemeanor bail jumping, and a warrant, and was turned over to corrections staff.

Weekly activity
For the week of Oct. 5-11, deputies conducted 20 traffic stops and 31 security checks and responded to eight car-versus-deer crashes and two car-versus-bear crashes.

Oct. 17, 2026

Deputies were sent to an address on CTH E in the Town of Bradley for a disturbance in progress after a report that several people were arguing and one was threatening harm to the others. The first deputy on scene spoke with the suspect, Spencer Johnson of Tomahawk, who showed signs of intoxication. After speaking with the other parties, the deputy determined Johnson had been using various items as weapons and threatening injury. He was taken into custody for disorderly conduct and transported to the Lincoln County Jail and turned over to corrections staff.

Oct. 19, 2026
Deputies were again sent to the same address on CTH E in the Town of Bradley for a disturbance in progress. A man at the address was damaging the house and threatening to stab a family dog, and the other occupants had locked themselves in a bathroom away from him. Deputies arrived and made contact with and detained Johnson. After speaking with everyone in the house, deputies arrested Johnson on three counts of disorderly conduct, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and bail jumping related to his previous arrest. He was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and turned over to corrections staff.

Weekly activity
For the week of Oct. 12-18, deputies conducted 23 traffic stops and 21 security checks and responded to 13 car-versus-deer crashes and one car-versus-coyote crash.

Oct. 21, 2026
Deputies were sent to a tavern on CTH A in the Town of Bradley for a report of a disorderly customer refusing to leave. The reporting party said the suspect, Erick Rigby of Tomahawk, was becoming upset and aggressive toward the reporting party and other customers, and that the situation was escalating into a physical fight. Just before deputies arrived, the reporting party was able to get Rigby on the ground and restrain him. Deputies arrested Rigby, who remained uncooperative. He was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and booked on three counts of disorderly conduct and one count of battery.

Weekly activity
For the week of Oct. 19-25, deputies conducted 16 traffic stops and 35 security checks and responded to 16 car-versus-deer crashes.