On September 25, 2020, about 9:28 PM the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, Boyceville Fire and Ambulance, Menomonie Fire Ambulance along with Life Link III Helicopter were dispatched to STH 170 near 180th St in the Town of Tiffany for a one vehicle crash with an ejected occupant. The initial crash investigation shows that a 2005 Chevrolet truck with two male occupants was traveling east on STH 170. The vehicle crossed the centerline went onto the left shoulder then over corrected and entered the right ditch. Upon entering the ditch the truck rolled several times and one occupant was ejected. The ejected occupant was flown from the scene by Life Link III. His injuries appear to be life threating. The other occupant was transported from the scene by ground ambulance, the extent of injuries is unknown at this time. Preliminary investigation shows that speed and alcohol are factors in the crash. The WI State Patrol Technical Reconstruction Unit also responded to the scene and is assisting with the investigation. The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the WI State Patrol. The names of the individuals involved in the crash are not being released at this time pending notification of family. Sheriff Kevin Bygd

On September 17, 2020, about 11:54 AM the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, Menomonie Fire and ambulance along with Mayo Helecopter were dispatched to USH 12 at CTH Q (s) in the Village of Knapp for a one vehicle crash with significant injury. The initial crash investigation shows that a 1993 Cheverolet truck operated by 25 YOA female was northbound on CTH Q and failed to stop for the stop sign at the intersection. The vehicle continued northbound across USH 12 and entered the ditch. The vehicle then struck a tree and entered the Mattison construction property were it struck the a pile of new guard rail sections. The driver had to be extricated from the vehicle by Menomonie Fire. The driver was flown from the scene by Mayo Helecopter to Mayo- Eau Claire. The drivers condition appears to be life threatening. The driver was wearing her seatbelt, and speed appears to be a factor in the crash. The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office. The names of the individuals involved in the crash are not being released at this time pending notification of family. Updated Information September 22, 2020: The driver of the vehicle involved in the crash has died do to injuries sustained in the crash. The driver was identified as ALYSHA HELLEKSON age 25 from Menomonie, WI. The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office.

On Monday, July 13, 2020 at 6:02 p.m. the Dunn County 911 Center received a report of a male pinned under a tractor on CTH A in the Town of Colfax, Dunn County. Colfax Fire, Colfax Ambulance and the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the scene. The WI State Patrol also responded to the scene. Mayo med flight was also requested to respond to the scene. A 76 YOA male was found pinned under the tire of a small older tractor. He had been using the tractor and a rotary mower on his property. He was extricated from under the tractor and was transported by med flight to Mayo- Eau Claire. He was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. The incident remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office. The name of the deceased is not being released at this time.

On Friday, July 10, 2020 at 10:01 p.m. the Dunn County 911 Center received a call of a house fire in the 6800 block of 270th Ave in Spring Brook Township, Dunn County. Menomonie Fire & Rescue and the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the scene. Numerous other fire services were called to the scene as well. There were five occupants inside the house at the time the fire started. Two adult females were able to make it out of the house with only minor injuries. They were treated and released on scene. Two adult males and one child perished in the fire and were pronounced deceased at the scene. This fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal, Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office. The names of the deceased are not being released at this time.

From the Office of U.S. Attorney Scott C. Blader Western District of Wisconsin U.S. Department of Justice GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT MADISON, WIS. – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictment today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Menomonie Man Charged with Heroin & Gun Crimes David Hartwig, 32, Menomonie, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, with possessing heroin with intent to distribute, and with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that on May 6, 2020, he possessed a 9mm pistol and ammunition, and heroin with intent to distribute. If convicted, Hartwig faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, 20 years on the heroin charge, and a mandatory minimum penalty of five years on the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Federal law requires that any sentence imposed on the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the charge of possessing heroin with intent to distribute. The charges against Hartwig are the result of an investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, Menomonie Police Department, West Central Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus is handling the prosecution.

On June 9, 2020, at 9:54 AM the Dunn County Communications Center received a report of a body in the Chippewa River upstream of the old railroad bridge in the Town of Dunn. Dunn County Deputies responded to the scene. The body was determined to be that of a white male and the individual was deceased. The Dunn County Medical examiner responded to the scene and assisted with recovering the body. An autopy is being conducted at the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office in Minnesota. The body has been identified, however, the name is not being released at this time pending notification of family and relatives. The matter remains under investigation. The body that was recovered was identified as Steven L. Feld, white/male, age 66. Feld was currently homeless residing in the City of Eau Claire. At this time the autopsy indicates the death is consistent with fresh water drowning. There were no traumatic injuries to the body. The matter remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and Eau Claire Police Department. If anyone had contact with Steven Feld or communicated with him after May 28, 2020 we would request that you contact Investigator Jake Mack of the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office at 715-232-1348.

On May 31st, 2020 the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office requested the publics assistance in identifying suspects in a criminal damage which had occurred at the Spring Brook Church in the Township of Spring Brook which had occurred over the previous weekend. Based on a tip submitted through the Dunn County Crime Stoppers Program several subjects were identified. As a result of the subsequent investigation a 17 year old male from Eau Claire was charged with a Felony for Criminal Damage to Religious Property and a 15 year old female was referred to juvenile court for videotaping the incident. A 16 year old male from a second group of suspects was also referred to juvenile court for his actions. The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the public for the tips which led to a successful resolution in this case. The Sheriff’s Office will continued to work with the Spring Brook Church to aggressively investigate and charge anyone who causes damage to their facilities.

On April 2nd, 2020 a traffic stop was conducted by a Dunn County Deputy in the Township of Dunn which led to the arrest of an adult male and the seizure of methamphetamine. Based on information received during this stop a search warrant was executed in the Village of Boyceville by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the West Central Drug Task Force and Boyceville Police Department. As a result of this warrant 110 grams of Methamphetamine, ecstasy pills, and packaging material was recovered. One adult was taken into custody as a result of the traffic stop and he was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the West Central Drug Task Force will continue to work together to stem the distribution of methamphetamine within Dunn County.

On Sunday, March 22, 2020 at 12:55pm the Dunn County 911 Center received calls of a house fire on CTH E (S) in Spring Brook Township. Elk Mound Fire, Menomonie Fire & Rescue and the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the scene. Numerus other fire and ambulance services were called to the scene including Mayo 1 and Lifelink 3 helicopters to treat and air lift patients from the scene who were in the house at the time of the fire. There were six occupants of the house at the time the fire started. Five of the occupants of the house, one female adult and four children, are being treated at different hospitals for thermal injuries and lacerations. One adult male from the house was unable to make it out of the house and perished. Two other adult residence of the house were not home at the time that the fire started. This fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal, Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office as crews are still on scene looking into the cause of this fatal fire.

On February 20, 2020, about 5:48 AM the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, Durand Fire and Durand ambulance along with Mayo 1 Helicopter were dispatched to STH 85 at CTH O (w), in the Township of Peru for a two vehicle crash with injuries and entrapment. The initial crash investigation shows that a 2007 Ford Explorer operated by a 67 YOA male was northbound on CTH O and failed to stop for the stop sign at the intersection. The Explorer struck a westbound 2007 Honda Civic operated by a 54 YOA male on STH 85. The driver of the Honda Civic was trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated from the vehicle. Life saving measures were attempted by Durand Ambulance and Mayo 1 personnel but the male was pronounced deceased on the scene by the Dunn County Medical Examiners Office. The driver of the Explorer had minor injures and was not transported by ambulance. The WI State Patrol Technical Reconstruction Unit was requested to assist with the investigation. The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the WI State Patrol. The names of the individuals involved in the crash are not being released at this time pending notification of family.

On February 2, 2020, at 8:10 PM the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and Menomonie Fire and Rescue, were dispatched to the 3700 block of 420th St, in the Township of Menomonie for a one-vehicle crash with injuries. The initial crash investigation showed a 4-door sedan was southbound on 420th St approaching a curve. The driver was unable to negotiate the curve. The vehicle left the roadway, and struck a group of large trees. Due to significant damage to the vehicle, Menomonie Fire and Rescue extricated the adult male driver. Life saving measures were attempted on scene, but were not successful and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The adult male passenger in the vehicle was transported to Mayo-Menomonie, where they received treatment for non-life threatening injuries. The crash remains under investigation. The names of the individuals involved in the crash are not being released at this time. Updated information: Feb 4, 2020: The deceased operator of the vehicle was Christopher Becker, age 19, of Menomonie, WI The passenger that was injured was Dylan Thomas, age 18, of Menomonie, WI

On January 15th, 2020 at 6:00pm the Dunn County Communications Center received a request for a welfare check on a subject in Colfax Township. Dunn County deputies responded to the residence and discovered a deceased male in the residence. The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Gary E. Styer age 51, with First Degree Intentional Homicide for the death of his 78 year old father Edward J. Styer, both of rural Colfax. He will appear in court today for a bond hearing at 1:15 p.m. Investigators have learned that in the morning hours of January 15, 2020, Gary used a blunt object to cause the death of Edward and remained in the home with him until later in the day when he drove to Eau Claire and disclosed to an acquaintance that something had happened in the house. Evidence is still being gathered in this case as the investigation continues.