Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office reports, Aug. 17-Sept. 20, 2026

Aug. 17, 2026
Deputies were dispatched to the area of the W6300 block of CTH E in the town of Rock Falls for a two-vehicle crash with injuries. Deputies learned the two vehicles had been traveling east on CTH E when the lead vehicle pulled to the side of the road so the driver could collect his mail. The second vehicle attempted to pass wide to the left when the first vehicle pulled back onto the road, causing the two vehicles to sideswipe each other. Minor injuries were reported.

Aug. 18, 2026
The sheriff’s office was made aware of an active threat against both the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Lincoln County Department of Probation and Parole. It was reported that Tristan Zdroik of Merrill had made threats to shoot up both places. The threats resulted in a warrant for Zdroik’s arrest being issued by Probation and Parole. Deputies responded to Zdroik’s house, where he was located and taken into custody. He was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and booked for disorderly conduct, felon in possession of a firearm, intentionally pointing a firearm at a person, and a probation violation.
A deputy on patrol observed a vehicle traveling east on CTH A near Hometown Dr. in the town of Bradley and noticed an equipment violation and the vehicle weaving slightly. After stopping the vehicle, the deputy made contact with the driver, Michael Galek of Merrill, and noticed signs of impairment. Galek agreed to perform sobriety tests, and as a result, he was arrested on a first-offense operating while intoxicated (OWI) charge. While being arrested, he physically resisted the deputy. He was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and booked for the OWI violation and resisting arrest.

Aug. 21, 2026
Deputies were dispatched to the area of CTH K and CTH Q in the town of Scott for a two-vehicle crash with injuries. Deputies learned one vehicle had been traveling south on CTH K while the other was traveling north. The driver of the northbound vehicle moved into the oncoming lane to pass a slower-moving vehicle and struck the southbound vehicle head-on, causing the northbound vehicle to roll over. A passenger in the southbound vehicle was trapped and needed assistance getting out of the car. All parties involved claimed injuries. The sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by Merrill Fire Department.

Aug. 23, 2026
Deputies were dispatched to Council Grounds State Park for a one-vehicle crash with injuries. Deputies found a vehicle traveling east on the park road had failed to negotiate a curve and struck a tree stump, causing significant damage. The deputy made contact with the driver, Spencer Jones of Merrill, and noticed signs of impairment. Jones was arrested on a first-offense OWI charge with a passenger under the age of 16 in the vehicle and was cited for failure to keep his vehicle under control. He was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and turned over to jail staff.

Weekly activity

For the week of Aug. 17-23, deputies conducted 24 traffic stops and 17 security checks and responded to four car-versus-deer crashes.

Aug. 29, 2026
A deputy was sent to check on a vehicle stopped in the turn lane of CTH K and CTH Q in the town of Scott. The deputy found the driver, Alejandro Clemente of Merrill, passed out behind the wheel with the vehicle still in drive and his foot on the brake. Observing signs of impairment, the deputy asked Clemente to perform sobriety tests, which he agreed to do. As a result, he was arrested on a first-offense OWI charge. He was later turned over to jail staff at the Lincoln County Jail.

Aug. 30, 2026
Deputies were sent to the area of the N6400 block of CTH J for a crash with injuries in which the driver had left the scene. An investigation found the vehicle had been traveling north on CTH J when the driver misjudged a curve, drove off the road into the inside ditch and rolled once before coming to rest on its tires. It was later learned the driver, David Woller of Edgar, and his passenger had gone to Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital for treatment of injuries from the crash. Deputies made contact with Woller at the hospital, and he was arrested on a first-offense OWI charge, going armed while intoxicated, and a probation violation. He was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and turned over to jail staff.

Weekly activity
For the week of Aug. 24-30, deputies conducted 17 traffic stops and 21 security checks and responded to five car-versus-deer crashes and one car-versus-porcupine crash.

Aug. 31, 2026
A deputy was sent to the area of USH 51 and CTH S in the town of Skanawan for a reckless driving complaint after a report that the suspect was texting while driving and swerving all over the road. The deputy located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, Nicholas Marin of Merrill, was found to have a suspended driver’s license and was cited for operating while suspended and for not having proof of insurance.

Sept. 4, 2026

Deputies were sent to the area of USH 51 near mile marker 216 in the town of Merrill for a rollover crash with injuries. A preliminary investigation found the vehicle had been traveling north on USH 51 when, for unknown reasons, the driver left the road, entered the ditch and rolled to rest in the wood line. The driver, Chloe Moran of Sayner, had to be extricated from the vehicle by the Merrill Fire Department and was transported by ambulance to Aspirus Merrill Hospital for unknown injuries. The sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by the Merrill Fire Department, Merrill Police Department, and Lightning Towing.
Deputies were sent to an address on Memorial Dr. in the town of Merrill for a disturbance in progress after a report that a man was being disorderly, trying to start fights with other residents, and had thrown an energy drink on the floor. The suspect also threatened to shoot others. Two occupants left the house before deputies arrived, and deputies made contact with and detained the suspect, Jeremy Connors of Merrill. After speaking with those involved, deputies arrested Connors for disorderly conduct and a probation violation. He was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and turned over to jail staff.

Weekly activity
For the week of Aug. 31-Sept. 6, deputies conducted 44 traffic stops and 15 security checks and responded to seven car-versus-deer crashes.

Sept. 7, 2026

Deputies were sent to an address on Oak Ridge Ave. in the town of Merrill for a burglary in progress. Before deputies arrived, the reporting party told dispatch the suspect had fled the building on foot and that the reporting party was chasing him. Deputies arrived and were directed to where the suspect was last seen, where they located and detained the suspect, Jason Duellman of Shell Lake, without incident. Duellman told deputies he had entered the building intending only to look around. He was arrested for burglary, entering a building or construction site, and a probation violation, and was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and turned over to jail staff.

Sept. 9, 2026
The sheriff’s office received a complaint of a battery at an address on Goehe Rd. in the town of Harrison. The reporting party said her friend had attacked and choked her. A deputy met with the victim at the sheriff’s office, who identified the suspect as Jeffrey Burnhill of Lake Tomahawk. Deputies searched for Burnhill and requested assistance from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office to check an address in its jurisdiction. Burnhill later turned himself in and was taken into custody for battery and disorderly conduct.
Deputies were sent to the area of CTH Z and STH 107 in the town of Corning for a two-vehicle crash with injuries. Deputies determined one vehicle had been traveling north on STH 107 while the second was traveling east on CTH Z. The driver of the second vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection and struck the first vehicle broadside. The driver of the first vehicle and the driver and a passenger of the second vehicle sustained minor injuries. The driver of the second vehicle was cited for the violation, and the passenger was transported by ambulance to Aspirus Merrill Hospital for treatment.

Sept. 10, 2026

Deputies were sent to the intersection of CTH J and CTH X in the town of Schley for a two-vehicle crash with injuries. Deputies determined one vehicle had been traveling on CTH X while the second had been traveling west on CTH J when its driver failed to stop for a stop sign and struck the first vehicle. Both drivers sustained minor injuries, and the driver of the second vehicle was cited for failure to stop at a stop sign.

Sept. 11, 2026
The sheriff’s office received a driving complaint about a vehicle, a white Ford Fusion, being operated on USH 51 near mile marker 208 in the town of Pine River. The caller said the vehicle was all over the road and it appeared the driver was struggling to stay conscious. A deputy in the area located the vehicle and observed the same driving behavior. The deputy attempted a traffic stop, but the driver failed to stop, prompting a pursuit. The deputy followed the vehicle into Marathon County, where the driver stopped near mile marker 199. The deputy made contact with the driver, Sylvia Fritsch of Wausau, and noticed signs of impairment. Fritsch agreed to perform sobriety tests, and as a result, she was arrested on a second-offense OWI charge, along with resisting or fleeing and resisting or obstructing an officer. She was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and turned over to jail staff. Deputies were assisted at the scene of the stop by the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office and, at Aspirus Merrill Hospital, by the Merrill Police Department.

Sept. 13, 2026
A deputy on patrol stopped a vehicle in the area of CTH W and STH 64 for an equipment violation. The deputy made contact with the driver, Jeremiah Zuelsdorff of Merrill, and observed signs of impairment. Zuelsdorff agreed to perform sobriety tests, and as a result, he was arrested on a fourth-offense OWI charge. He was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and turned over to jail staff.

The sheriff’s office received a call from the Minneapolis International Airport regarding an aircraft complaint in the area of CTH E and Wadell Rd. in the town of Bradley. Minneapolis air traffic control reported that someone on the ground had pointed a laser at a 737 traveling at 34,000 feet. The aircraft was able to provide coordinates of where the laser originated. Deputies responded to the area and made contact with property owners but were unable to locate a suspect. The aircraft reported no disruption to the flight. Investigation is ongoing.

Weekly activity
For the week of Sept. 7-13, deputies conducted 30 traffic stops and 22 security checks and responded to five car-versus-deer crashes.

Sept. 17, 2026
Deputies were dispatched to Holly’s on CTH N in the town of Bradley for a disturbance in progress after a report that someone driving a red truck had tried to hit the reporting party following a verbal argument. Deputies located the suspect vehicle a short time later and conducted a stop. The deputy made contact with the driver, Garrett Kussiw of Greenleaf, and noticed signs of impairment. Kussiw 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 jail staff.

Deputies were sent to the USH 51 truck stop in the town of Scott for a disturbance in progress after a report that a man who had been sleeping in the woods was now walking around the parking lot naked from the waist down. Deputies located the suspect, Heath Climer of Merrill, near a dumpster with no pants on. Climer told deputies he had gotten into an argument with a taxi driver, who dropped him off at the truck stop. He said he went into the woods to lie down and sleep, and when he woke up, his clothes were wet, so he removed his pants and intended to look for new ones. He was found near the dumpster attempting to keep others from seeing him. Climer was arrested for misdemeanor bail jumping, lewd and lascivious behavior in public, and a probation violation. He was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and turned over to jail staff.

Sept. 18, 2026
Deputies were sent to the area of USH 51 and CTH J in the town of Birch for a report of a reckless driver operating all over the road. The first deputy to arrive located the suspect vehicle and observed the same driving behavior that had been reported to the sheriff’s office. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Craig Winkler of Waupaca, and noticed signs of impairment. Winkler agreed to perform sobriety tests, and as a result, he was arrested on a fourth-offense OWI charge. He was transported to the Lincoln County Jail, where he was held pending a Monday afternoon court hearing.
Deputies were sent to the W1000 block of CTH D in the town of Harrison for a reported motorcycle-versus-deer crash with injuries. Deputies learned a motorcycle operated by a 57-year-old man from Hulbert, Mich., had been traveling on CTH D when he struck a deer that had walked into the road in front of him. The man suffered rib and leg injuries in the collision.

Sept. 19, 2026
Deputies were sent to an address on Somo Lake Dr. in the town of Wilson for a disturbance in progress after a report that a woman was attacking a man and accusing him of assaulting her. The suspect, Bernadine Skalitzky, left the scene on foot before deputies arrived. Deputies spoke with the man and others present at the time of the disturbance and searched unsuccessfully for Skalitzky. The sheriff’s office was assisted by the Tomahawk Police Department and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. A report will be completed, and two counts of disorderly conduct will be referred to the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office for charging.

Sept. 20, 2026
A driver pulled out onto CTH L from CTH N in the town of Bradley in front of three motorcycles. The motorcycle operators had to take evasive maneuvers to avoid a serious collision, which caused them to cross the center line and nearly strike a Lincoln County squad car in the area. A deputy stopped the vehicle that caused the chain-reaction incident and made contact with the driver, Justin Duranceau of New London, and noticed signs of impairment. Duranceau agreed to perform sobriety tests, and as a result, he was arrested on a first-offense OWI charge. He was later released to a responsible party.

Weekly activity
For the week of Sept. 14-20, deputies conducted 44 traffic stops and 16 security checks and responded to four car-versus-deer crashes and one car-versus-bear crash.