Dunn County Man Sentenced to 81 Months for Illegal Firearm and Heroin Possession

From the Office of Acting U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea

Western District of Wisconsin

U.S. Department of Justice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: TAYLOR L. KRAUS

AUGUST 11, 2021 PHONE: (608) 264-5158

WWW.JUSTICE.GOV/USAO/WIW TWITTER: @USAO_WDWI

MENOMONIE MAN SENTENCED TO 81 MONTHS FOR ILLEGAL FIREARM AND HEROIN POSSESSION

MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that David Hartwig, 34, Menomonie, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 81 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon and for possessing heroin with intent to distribute. This prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

On May 6, 2020, undercover officers approached Hartwig as part of a drug trafficking investigation. Upon seeing the officers, Hartwig ran, resulting in a short pursuit during which Hartwig displayed a 9mm pistol. After tackling Hartwig, officers recovered the gun along with a backpack Hartwig dropped. The backpack contained an additional magazine loaded with 9mm ammunition, heroin packaged for sale, Hartwig’s wallet, and a small amount of methamphetamine.

At the time of these offenses, Hartwig was on community supervision in connection with a 2011 Wisconsin conviction for delivery of heroin and a 2019 Wisconsin conviction for possession of methamphetamine. Under federal law, he has been prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition since 2007.

At sentencing Judge Peterson remarked that Hartwig’s persistent drug offenses, along with acts of violence in his criminal history, made him a danger to the community. Judge Peterson also noted that Hartwig’s illegal possession of the firearm demonstrated his disregard of the law, as did the fact he fled from officers.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force, Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, Menomonie Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant United States Attorney Taylor L. Kraus.

Fatal Motorcycle Crash - Town of Lucas

At 9:09 p.m. on Friday, July 9, 2021, the Dunn County Communications Center received a report of a single motorcycle crash on USH 12, east of 250th St. in Lucas township.

The Dunn County Sheriff's Office and Menomonie Fire Department responded to the scene. Upon arrival, deputies located a lone unresponsive male.

The preliminary investigation indicates the motorcycle was westbound on USH 12 when it struck a deer. The motorcycle operator was ejected from the motorcycle. The motorcycle operator was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

The operator sustained life threatening injuries and was airlifted from the scene by mayo helicopter. The operator passed away the following day, at an Eau Claire Hospital, as a result of the injuries sustained in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The name of the operator is being withheld pending family notification.

Dunn County Sheriff Participating Drug and Crime Prevention Educational Program

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office is once again partnering with the National Child Safety Council in a Child Safety, Drug and Crime Prevention Educational Program.

Through this program, our agency will be able to provide numerous educational materials for children pre-school and older, as well as materials on drug and crime prevention, identity theft, internet safety, and safety information for our senior citizens. These materials have been designed exclusively by the National Child Safety Council (www.nationalchildsafetycouncil.org), the largest and longest serving not-for profit organization dedicated to child safety in the nation.

In order to cover the cost of these materials, we will be contacting businesses and professional and civic leaders to help financially sponsor this program. Since the National Child Safety Council is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, all contributions are tax deductible. As an acknowledgement of your support, all sponsors will be listed on the prestige page of all activity manuals and magazines.

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank you in advance for your continued support and we look forward to participating in this program.