Two Rhinelander men are facing numerous charges after the Recreation Deputy worked with the DNR and Oneida County Deputies to track down two men who shot a deer at night earlier this week. A resident in the Town of Harrison phoned the Sheriff’s Office at 1:30 last Monday morning and reported that they observed a truck slow down, shine a light into a field and shoot. A second neighbor also heard the shooting and was able to obtain a license plate for the offending vehicle. The following morning a DNR Warden found the pair in Rhinelander and they admitted to being involved. A 23-year-old Rhinelander man will face charges including hunt deer with an artificial light, hunt deer during the closed season, possession of an un-tagged deer, discharge a firearm from a vehicle, possess a loaded gun in a vehicle, hunt within 50 feet of the center line, and both he and his traveling partner, a 22-year-old Rhinelander man, will face trespassing charges. You are reminded you can only shine deer until 10 p.m. and you cannot shine in or near occupied dwellings. Residents who see shining after hours are encouraged to report the violation to the Sheriff’s Office at once to help prevent illegal poaching.
A 37-year-old Tomahawk man was arrested late Monday evening on a warrant through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Deputies went to a home in the Town of Somo late Monday night after an anonymous report of drug activity. The home owner allowed the deputies inside the home where they found the man hiding and took him into custody. The original complaint of drug use was unfounded, the man was brought to the Lincoln County Jail where he remains.
Deputies took a 47-year-old Merrill woman into custody early Tuesday evening after stopping a wrong way driver on US Hwy. 51. Numerous cell callers reported that a vehicle was traveling south in the northbound lane of US Hwy. 51 at 7:50 p.m. Within three minutes a deputy had located the vehicle near the south intersection of County Rd. K and was able to get it stopped. The driver admitted to drinking and explained she thought she was driving on Pier Street when she was stopped. The woman refused to perform field sobriety tests but provided a breath sample. The woman was taken into custody on a felony fifth offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. She was also cited for driving the wrong way on the highway. At a bond hearing on Wednesday a Lincoln County Judge set a $2,500 cash bond. Unable to post, the woman remains in the Lincoln County Jail.
A 25-year-old Merrill man is in the Lincoln County Jail facing numerous charges after Deputies and Merrill Police Officers took him into custody on Wednesday morning. Just after 9:30 a.m., a business on East Main Street called because a vehicle was parked on their lawn. Two deputies assisted as Merrill Officers were on other calls. When deputies arrived they found the male seated behind the wheel and observed signs that the man was under the influence of an intoxicant. The man was taken into custody after he became resistive and refused to perform field sobriety tests. During a search of the vehicle deputies located prescription medication and drug paraphernalia along with evidence he was involved in a theft. The suspect was brought to the Lincoln County Jail where he was charged with six counts of felony bail jumping, retail theft, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated second offense, operating while revoked fifth offense, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance. At a bond hearing on Thursday the suspect was remanded to jail on a $10,000 cash bond. Unable to post, the man remains in the Lincoln County jail.
At least two people were injured after a two vehicle crash on Wednesday evening in the Town of Schley. At 6 p.m., cell 911 callers reported a two vehicle crash on State Rd. 17 north of County Rd. C. The driver of the vehicle that was struck, a 27-year-old Irma man, was cited for operating without a license while the striking vehicle driver, a 27-year-old Oshkosh man, was cited for inattentive driving. None of the injuries were life threatening and alcohol was not suspected as a factor. The Town of Russell Fire Department assisted at the scene.
A 37-year-old Tomahawk woman was taken into custody late Wednesday evening on a criminal traffic charge. A deputy responded to the area of US Hwy. 8 near US Hwy. 51 after a cell 911 caller reported a possible impaired driver. When the deputy located the vehicle, the driver showed signs of impairment. The woman refused field sobriety tests and was taken into custody for a third offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. During the arrest the woman resisted, leading to a charge of resisting arrest. She was booked into the Lincoln Jail and remained there until later in the morning on Thursday when a responsible party posted a cash bond.
A 26-year-old Merrill woman suffered minor injuries after a single vehicle crash early Friday morning in the Town of Bradley. At 9:35 a.m. a cell caller reported a vehicle off the roadway on County Rd. A at Moodig Rd. She was transported by Tomahawk EMS to Ministry Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The Tomahawk Fire Department assisted at the scene.
Three men involved in the illegal harvesting of a deer will likely face multiple charges as the Rec. Deputy and the DNR investigate a second complaint this week of shooting after hours. The warden and deputy went to a cabin off of Spile Dam Road in the Town of Pine River east of Merrill after a caller reported shooting after hours Saturday. The trio initially denied any activity but eventually admitted to harvesting an illegal deer earlier in the day. Marijuana and a pipe used to smoke it were also located. The men involved are from Mequon, Waukesha and Lake Forest, IL. Criminal charges being considered include possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstructing, and party to possession of an untagged deer, possession of a loaded gun in a vehicle, failure to tag a deer and improper license. The three men range in age from 18-51.
A 16-year-old Merrill youth suffered non-life threatening injuries after a one vehicle rollover on Sunday morning in the Town of Pine River. Deputies along with EMS responded to State Rd. 64 west of Range Line Road after the single vehicle crash was reported at 4:50 a.m. The driver was transported to Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center where he was treated and released. The Pine River Fire Department and First Responders assisted at the scene.
Four people were cited and one was arrested after the Recreation Deputy found them in the act of timber theft Sunday morning. When the deputy located the four they were standing over a pile of freshly cut pine boughs. The group admitted they did not have a permit to cut on county land. One of the subjects, a 17-year-old Tomahawk man, was found to have a warrant for his arrest through the Oneida County Sheriff for contempt of court. He was brought to the Lincoln County Jail where he was cited for theft before he posted bond on the warrant. A 22-year-old Tomahawk woman, a 29-year-old Tomahawk man, and an 18-year-old Tomahawk man will all be cited for timber theft. The pine boughs were confiscated and a local evergreen business purchased them with the proceeds being returned to Lincoln County.
A 53-year-old Wausau man was arrested Sunday evening on two warrant charges. The Recreation Deputy was checking some hunters when he found one of them was wanted by the Oneida County Sheriff for failing to pay fines on two cases. The man was brought to the Lincoln County Jail where he was able to post bond and be released.
The number of car deer crashes continues to go up with 15 being reported this past week. A bear was found struck on County Rd. B west of State Rd. 17 on Wednesday evening in the Town of Harrison. That animal was claimed by a passerby. A second bear was struck on Saturday night on US Hwy. 51 near County Rd. S south of Tomahawk. That bear had run off prior to the deputies’ arrival.