FOR THE PERIOD: AUG. 14-AUG. 25, 2024
On 08/14/2024 a deputy was sent to the area of CTH M and Forks Rd. in the Town of Corning for a motorcyclist who was requesting assistance. Preliminary information provided by the caller suggested that there was a crash but it was unknown if anyone was injured. When the deputy arrived on scene, he made contact with the driver of the motorcycle, a 64-year-old man from Merrill who had injuries consistent with a motorcycle crash. According to the driver, he was negotiating a curve when a deer ran out in front of him. He attempted to avoid hitting the deer and lost control of his bike as a result. The bike and driver then entered the ditch, where it is believed the driver struck his head on a delineator post. The driver was not wearing a helmet. The driver was transported to Aspirus Merrill Hospital by Merrill Fire Department ambulance.
On 08/15/2024 deputies were sent to the intersection of USH 8 and USH 51 in the Town of Bradley for a semi vs. car crash with injuries. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the drivers and witnesses to determine the cause of the crash. The car being driven by an 81-year-old Sparta man was westbound on USH 8 and stopped to turn southbound onto USH 51. The driver was distracted by the actions of another vehicle that was not involved in the crash. The driver then began his turn and turned into the path of the eastbound semi being driven by 57-year-old Conover man, resulting in the crash. Both drivers and a passenger in the car were injured as a result of the crash. Occupants of the car were transported by Tomahawk Ambulance. The driver of the vehicle that distracted the westbound vehicle had left the scene.
On 08/16/2024 the Lincoln County 911 center took a report of a vehicle rollover in the area of USH 51 and CTH D in the City of Tomahawk. Upon arrival on scene, officers from Tomahawk Police Department requested that deputies conduct the investigation. No injuries were reported, but there was some indication that the driver may have been operating under the influence of inhalants. According to a witness, the driver was northbound on USH 51 and exited the highway at the off ramp to CTH D. The driver then continued through the intersection without stopping for the stop sign. The vehicle then entered the ditch and went airborne before rolling and coming to a final rest. The driver, a 28-year-old female from Eagan, Minn., was not injured but was transported by Sheriff’s squad to Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital where she was asked to do some sobriety tests. As a result of those tests, she was placed under arrest for a first offense of OWI. She was then transported to the Lincoln County Jail where she was turned over to correctional staff.
On 08/16/2024 deputies were sent to the area of STH 64 and CTH X in the Town of Pine River for a hit-and-run crash. It was reported that while the vehicles were negotiating the curve at the south intersection of STH 64 and CTH X, the suspect’s vehicle side-swiped the other vehicle and left the scene. The suspect vehicle was located by the boyfriend of the driver of the vehicle that had been side-swiped and held the driver until a deputy arrived on scene. Upon making contact with the driver, a 32-year-old woman from Merrill, the deputy had noticed that she was showing signs of impairment. The deputy requested the woman do sobriety tests, which she did. As a result of those tests, she was placed under arrest for a first offense of OWI. The driver was then later released to a responsible party.
On 08/17/2024 a deputy on patrol observed a vehicle in the area of CTH H and USH 51 in the Town of Rock Falls. The deputy reported seeing the vehicle traveling left of center and other traffic violations. The deputy stopped the vehicle and made contact with the driver, a 19-year-old man from Merrill. Upon making contact, the deputy noticed signs of impairment and requested the driver perform some sobriety tests. As a result of those tests, the deputy placed the driver under arrest for an absolute sobriety violation. The driver was later released to a responsible party. A passenger in the vehicle will also be cited for under-age alcohol consumption.
On 08/18/2024 deputies were dispatched to an address on Short Rd. in the Town of Bradley for what was reported to be a man with a gun threatening the reporting party. The reporting party stated that the suspect came up to the reporting party’s door and pounded on the door hard enough to rattle the house. The reporting party then went outside to investigatewhat the problem was when he said he saw the suspect, a 64-year-old Tomahawk man, holding onto what the reporting party described as a handgun, and the suspect was allegedly pointing the gun in the reporting party’s direction. The reporting party reported he then returned to his house for safety. When the first deputy arrived in the area, he located an individual who matched the description of the suspect. The deputy detained the individual and began investigating what had happened. It was found that the detained subject has an ongoing neighborhood dispute with the reporting party over alleged reckless driving issues. No handgun was found during the investigation, but the detained subject appeared to be intoxicated. He was subsequently arrested for disorderly conduct and transported to the Lincoln County Jail.
On 08/20/2024 a deputy on patrol stopped a vehicle on E. Main St. and S. Memorial Dr. in the city of Merrill for lane deviation and speed. When the deputy made contact with the driver, a 28-year-old woman from Mosinee, they noticed signs of impairment. As a result, the woman was asked to perform field sobriety tests which she refused to do. The woman was then placed under arrest for OWI first offense. She was transported to the Lincoln County Jail where she was also booked for possession of drug paraphernalia and bail jumping.
On 08/22/2024 a deputy was sent to the area of STH 17 and Gross Ln. in the Town of Russell for a vehicle in the ditch. After arriving on scene, the deputy tracked the vehicle owner down to his home address. The deputy made contact with the 62-year-old man from Gleason. In making contact with the driver, the deputy detected signs of impairment. As a result, the deputy asked the driver to perform some sobriety tests, which the man refused to do, resulting in the deputy placing him under arrest for a first offense of OWI.
On 08/23/2024 the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office (ONSO) requested the assistance with a disturbance on North Rd. in the Town of Nokomis. ONSO reported they had an open line to an address in that area and all they could hear was yelling in the background. Upon arrival on scene, the Lincoln County deputy encountered the two suspects, one being a 58-year-old man and the other being a 25-year-old man, both of Tomahawk. After making contact, the 25-year-old man attempted to flee on foot which resulted in a short foot pursuit. The Lincoln County deputy took the subject into custody and then turned him over to ONSO deputies. The investigation was then completed by ONSO.
On 08/23/2024 a deputy was called to the area of Echo Valley Rd. and Echo Point Rd. for a shots fired complaint. The reporting party reported hearing a series of gun shots followed by what he described as an animal crying in pain. A short time later, the reporting party reported that a female party was observed in the area calling for her dog. Investigation revealed that the dog was outside when it ran off after some deer. A very short time later is when the gunshots were heard, and the dog never returned home. Based on information provided by the dog owner, the deputy located a suspect who was believed to be responsible for shooting the dog. The suspect admitted to shooting at that time but denied shooting any dog. The suspect allowed the deputy the opportunity to look around and no evidence of the dog was located. This case remains under investigation.
On 08/24/2024 deputies were sent to investigate a reported vehicle in the ditch on S. Pier Lake Rd. in the Town of Wilson. Upon arrival deputies made contact with the driver, a 53-year-old woman from Tomahawk. When making contact with the driver, the deputy noticed signs of impairment, resulting in the deputy asking the driver to complete some sobriety tests. As a result of those tests, the driver was placed under arrest for 4th offense OWI. During the investigation, the ONSO notified Lincoln County that they were investigating a hit-and-run crash that occurred in their county prior to this incident. All information, along with pictures, was sent to ONSO for their investigation. The driver was then transported to Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital for medical clearance before being transported to the Lincoln County Jail.
On 08/25/2024 deputies were dispatched to the area near a gas station in the Town of Somo for a male subject that had been acting disorderly and threatened to kill the reporting party. As the first deputy arrived on scene, he located and made contact with the suspect, a 37-year-old man from Wausau. The deputy attempted to talk with the suspect who was un-cooperative. The suspect attempted to walk away from the deputy and enter a home, at which point the deputy advised the suspect that he was being detained and the deputy searched the suspect for weapons. The suspect physically resisted the deputy’s efforts to take him into custody. The deputy was able to get the subject under arrest; however, the suspect continued to resist until backup deputies arrived. The suspect was eventually transported to the Lincoln County Jail where he was booked for bail jumping, disorderly conduct, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest. No injuries were reported as a result of this contact.
On 08/30/2024 deputies were dispatched to the area of CTH G and Robl Rd. in the Town of Pine River for a motorcycle vs deer crash with injury. Upon the first deputies arrival, they provided first aid care to the 19-year-old motorcycle driver until the ambulance arrived. In the course of the investigation, it was learned that the motorcycle was westbound on CTH G near Robl Rd. when the deer entered the road in the motorcycle’s path. The driver struck the deer at what he thought was 60 mph. The driver was wearing a helmet and protective clothing at the time of the crash. He was transported to Aspirus Merrill Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
On 08/30/2024 deputies were dispatched to the area of STH 17 and R and H Rd. in the Town of Harrison for a reported domestic disturbance in progress. It was reported that a 44-year-old Gleason man was at the home of his soon-to-be ex-wife, and he was banging and yelling at the door. The reporting party, a 47-year-old woman also from Gleason, was saying that they had gotten into an argument and now the suspect was calling her derogatory names and telling her to let him in the house. The suspect left the address prior to deputies arriving on scene. There was evidence at the scene that suggested the suspect may have sustained an injury. The suspect was found at his home a short time later and taken into custody for domestic disorderly conduct. He was then transported to the Lincoln County Jail where he was turned over to corrections staff.
On 09/01/2024 deputies were sent to the area of USH 51 and CTH V in the Town of Birch for a reckless driving complaint. The first deputy in the area located the suspect vehicle and began to follow it. While following the suspect’s vehicle, the deputy observed the vehicle was being operated all over both northbound lanes of traffic. The deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and went to make contact with the driver, a 50-year-old woman from Ashland. In speaking with the driver, the deputy noticed signs of impairment. The deputy asked the driver to perform sobriety tests and she agreed to do so. Subsequent to those tests, the driver was placed under arrest for OWI 2nd offense, possession of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. She was later transported to the Lincoln County Jail.
During the seven-week timeframe prior to Sept. 5, deputies conducted 315 traffic stops, performed 186 security checks and responded to 47 car vs. deer crashes, 4 car vs. bear crashes, and 1 car vs. coyote crash, as well as responding to 76 driving complaints. The 911 Dispatch Center took 30 hang-up calls and 62 nuisance calls.