MERRILL POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS

01-05-2021
At 2:21 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle operating without head lamps illuminated. The driver displayed characteristics indicative of intoxication. The driver agreed to field sobriety tests and as a result was arrested for operating while intoxicated.
At 8:50 a.m., a caller reported his employment had received notification from the Depart of Workforce Development that he had claimed unemployment benefits although he had not been unemployed. It appears someone had used the caller’s information to claim, or attempted to claim benefits. Investigation continues.
At 2:59 p.m., a restaurant reported receiving a counterfeit bill. The person attempting to pass the bill has been identified and further investigation is being completed.
At 3:13 p.m., a male was arrested for a probation violation at the request of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
At 3:47 p.m., a caller requested a welfare check on her granddaughter after viewing an online video of the granddaughter unconscious and the person recording was unable to wake her. Contact was made with the granddaughter who was now conscious. The granddaughter was found to have a warrant for her arrest through the Wisconsin Department of Correction,s as did another male on scene. Both were arrested for their respective warrants.
At 7:46 p.m., a caller reported a vehicle on fire on Highway 51 at Highway 64. A Merrill officer was requested to respond, as he was in the area. It was found a tow truck was towing a semi and broke down. There was no fire, and it is believed what the caller saw was the tow truck’s amber lights combined with dense fog appearing as if there was a fire.
01-07-21
At 1:12 p.m., it was reported to a detective that someone had provided perjured testimony during a court hearing. Investigation revealed the matter to be unfounded.
At 4:46 p.m., a welfare check was requested on two children staying at a hotel. It was reported there was suspected drug activity occurring in the room with the children present. Upon officers’ arrival they could smell the odor of marijuana within the room. Numerous items of drug paraphernalia were observed within view and within reach of the children in the room. A male was found unconscious on the floor, and an ambulance was requested to assess him. A search warrant for the room was obtained and additional items of drug paraphernalia were located. The mother of the children was arrested for child neglect-exposing child to drug abuse and possession of drug paraphernalia. The unconscious male was arrested for a probation violation after being medically evaluated.
01-08-21
At 8:40 p.m., an officer stopped a vehicle after he observed a vehicle drive through a red traffic light. A K9 was requested at the scene to conduct a drug sniff of the vehicle. K9 Eros arrived and positively alerted to the odor of drugs coming from the vehicle. A large quantity of methamphetamine was located as well as a quantity of marijuana. The three occupants were all found to be on probation and were all arrested for probation violations. Further investigation is pending with additional charges for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver forthcoming. The driver was cited for failure to obey sign/signal.
01-09-21
At 11:52 a.m., a caller reported a vehicle cutting her off and tailgating her. An officer located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. That driver stated the caller had been driving too slow. He was found to have a revoked driver’s license and unauthorized registration plates on his vehicle. He was cited for operating after revocation and non-registration.
01-10-21
At 3:48 a.m., an officer on patrol located someone who had driven off the roadway off CTY RD G at Memorial Drive, striking and breaking a sign. The driver left the scene without reporting the crash.
At 9:44 a.m., a male flagged down an officer and reported someone had struck his vehicle the previous day, causing damage to a side mirror, and left the scene.
At 4:47 p.m., a caller reported someone stole his comforter from a Laundromat. The man stated the comforter was in the dryer and he left to run an errand. Upon arrival, the comforter was gone.