On Jan 19, 2020 the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office received a report of criminal damage to signs along the snowmobile corridors of 20 and 33 in the Townships of Spring Brook and Rock Creek. A reward was offered by local snowmobile clubs and local business and tips from the public were generated on Jan 20. The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office worked with the WI Department of Natural Resources Wardens on a joint investigation. Two males were identified as being responsible for the damage and have admitted to their involvement. There were more than signs damaged for an estimated damage amount of $2000. The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office will be requesting formal criminal charges from the Dunn County District Attorney’s Office. The signs have been repaired by the Elk Lake Blizzard and Brunswick Beavers snowmobile clubs.

On January 12, 2020 at 3:58 PM, the Dunn County Communications Center received a report of a Union Pacific train that had derailed near the 190th St crossing east of the Village of Knapp in Stanton Township. Dunn County Deputies, Menomonie Fire and Ambulance, Boyceville and Colfax Fire Departments, Wisconsin State Patrol and the Dunn County Highway Department responded to the scene. The train was eastbound and numerous rail cars derailed and are damaged. There are no reported injuries. There have been no reports of any hazardous materials spilled or released. Union Pacific personnel are on scene evaluating the derailment. US 12 has been closed from Cty Rd K to Cty Rd Q. Multiple roadways that intersect the railroad in the vicinity have been closed also. Traffic has been detoured around the incident area. Motorist are asked to stay away from the incident area and to not drive past road closed signs. Operations to clear the derailment will be using US 12 to stage and unload heavy equipment. US 12 will be closed into the late afternoon hours tomorrow, 01-13-2020. Sheriff Kevin Bygd

On Tuesday, December 17, 2019 about 10:15 AM the Dunn County 911 center received a report of a pickup that struck a train on 700th St south of 910th Ave. The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, Colfax Police, Colfax Ambulance and Menomonie Fire Department responded to the scene. Initial investigation shows a 2015 Nissan Frontier truck was northbound on 700th St and was struck by a westbound Canadian National Train. The Nissan was operated by a 57-year-old female from rural Colfax. The female was transported to Mayo Eau Claire by Colfax ambulance with unknown injures. Her condition is unknown at this time. This crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Kevin Bygd Dunn County Sheriff

On Thursday, December 5th, 2019 shortly after 1pm the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and Menomonie Fire Department responded to the 3400 block of 420th Ave. in the Town of Menomonie, for a report of a male subject who had been run over by a tractor. Upon arrival, Deputies learned that the victim was riding in the bucket of the tractor, while driving eastbound on 420th Ave. The tractor drove over a bump in the road causing the victim to lose his balance and fall out of the tractor bucket. The victim, and friend driving the tractor, had been out doing snowmobile trail maintenance, using the tractor with bucket to sign and clear snowmobile trails for the upcoming season. The 66-year-old male victim, a town of Menomonie resident, was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim, Craig S. Koser was a retried deputy from the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office. Craig retired from the Sheriff’s Office in 2009 after 24 years of service with the Sheriff Office and several years with Menomonie Police Department before being hired by the Sheriff’s Office. Since his retirement Craig has spent his time volunteering for different organizations and driving school bus. Craig will be deeply missed by family, friends and his brothers and sisters at the Sheriff’s Office.

During further investigation into the missing person case of Robynn Bridges, land and water searches were completed. During the land search in the area of where Robynn Bridges was last seen with the assistance of the Northstar Search and Rescue cadaver dogs, a body of an adult female was located in a wooded area near the Chippewa River. An autopsy was completed and the body was confirmed to be that of Robynn Bridges. At this point there are no indications of foul play but we are awaiting for a toxicology report and a final autopsy report. The investigation is ongoing by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and Dunn Medical Examiner’s Office. Sheriff Kevin Bygd Dunn County

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office reports that on November 6th, 2017 at 8:20 P.M. the Dunn County 911 Communications Center received a report of residential fire at N12946 870th Street in the Township of Sand Creek. Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, Sand Creek Fire, Colfax Fire and EMS and Chippewa Fire Protection District responded to the scene. When deputies arrived it was determined that a 69-year-old female resided alone at the residence. Investigation on scene indicated that the female was most likely home during the fire. Dunn County Sheriff’s Office Investigators began their investigation and were able to locate a body believed to be the female resident in the interior of the home. The Dunn County Medical Examiner responded to the scene. Today, November 7th 2017 an autopsy will be performed. Identification of the victim and the results of the autopsy will be released as soon as information becomes available. Investigation into the origin of the fire continues. Update: The incident address is N12946 780th Street in the Township of Sand Creek not 870th Street as previously released. The female who was found deceased, who was located just inside the doorway of the residence, has been positively identified as: Kathleen E. Johnson F/W 69 years of age. Cause of death as determined by autopsy was Carbon Monoxide Poisoning due to Smoke Inhalation. Origin of the fire has been determined to have started in the living room area of the residence near a wood burning fire place. Do to the extent of the fire damage sustained to the residence the cause will be officially listed as undetermined.

On October 11, 2019 at 12:56 hours the Dunn County Communication Center received a call of an armed robbery that had just occurred at the U-Fuel located at N5698 850th street which is located adjacent to the Exit 52 I-94 and U.S. 12 interchange. Deputies assisted by Wisconsin State Patrol responded to and remain on scene with the investigation and area search active. The victim indicated a male subject with a silver handgun and a blue bandana over his face demanded money before leaving southbound on foot. Video surveillance was obtained from a nearby business that the victim has identified as the suspect. We are sharing the suspect photo requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect. If anyone has information they may contact the Sheriff’s Office or anonymously at dunncocrimestoppers.com. Update The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office has taken a 21 year old man into custody for today’s armed robbery at U-Fuel. He is also believed to be the suspect in the Peoples State Bank robbery in Boyceville on October 1st. These cases are still under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and Boyceville Police Department. Sheriff Bygd wants to thank the media outlets and the public for their assistance in sharing the information that has led to this resolution. Criminal charges are expected to be filed in these cases next week by the District Attorney’s Office.

On Friday, September 20th, 2019 at around 11:30pm the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office responded to an address in the Town of Tainter for a report of a missing person near the Lake Tainter Channel. Menomonie Fire Department also responded to the scene with a boat and additional equipment. When Deputies arrived on scene, they found the boat, last operated by the missing individual, partially tied up to the dock, lights still on and the motor running. While searching for the driver, Deputies located the male driver deceased in the water near the boat. Foul play is not suspected at this time. This investigation is still under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Natural Resources. ____________________________________________________________________________________ The deceased boater was identified as Daniel Buss, 72, of rural Menomonie.

On Saturday, September 8th, 2019 the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, Menomonie Fire Department and Wisconsin DNR responded to the 3900 block of 640th St, in the Town of Red Cedar for a report of a male subject who had been shot. The subsequent investigation showed four family members were bird hunting together at a game farm. One member set a shotgun down against some brush to tend to a dog. The shotgun fell over, causing the gun to fire. The safety on the shotgun was not engaged and the bird shot struck the victim. The 60-year-old male victim was flown from the scene by Mayo helicopter. The incident remains under investigation by the Wisconsin DNR.

On September 4th, 2019 the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the West Central Drug Task Force, executed a search warrant in the City of Menomonie. As a result of this warrant nearly one and a half pounds of Methamphetamine, worth an estimated $20,000, and an additional $10,000 in cash and two firearms, one confirmed stolen, were recovered. This is the largest seizure of methamphetamine to date in Dunn County. One adult was taken into custody as a result of the search warrant. 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 May 18th, 2019 the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office took a report of damage to several headstones at the Straw Hill Cemetery located in the Township of Spring Brook. On May 20th, 2019 James R. Allbright Jacobson of Bloomer, Wisconsin and Chase A. Schultz of Cadott, Wisconsin were each charged with Criminal Damage to Property based upon their involvement in damaging the headstones at the cemetery. They are scheduled to appear in court on July 2nd. Thanks to the use of social media and a local news media outlet picking up on the story, information was provided to my office to help solve this case.

On May 8, 2019, the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 123 S Hillside Dr in the Village of Wheeler. Multiple Cyber Tips had been received from National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) indicating that accounts used by Wayne Englin contained child pornography. Further investigation showed that Wayne Englin lived at that residence and had an internet account. Contact was made at the residence and Wayne was interviewed by investigators, while the residence was searched. During the search a forensic preview was done of electronic devices in the residence and numerous images of child pornography were located. There was also a number of children’s under garments that did not belong in the home. Wayne admitted that he had viewed numerous images of child pornography on his electronic devices. He was arrested for 10 counts of Possession of Child Pornography and transported to the Dunn County Jail. Based on additional investigation Wayne arrested for Repeated Sexual Assault of a Child among other crimes. Wayne’s wife Michelle was also arrested for Second Degree Sexual Assault of a Child among other crimes. This investigation remains open and active as the Sheriff’s Office attempts to identify any additional possible victims in this case. Please contact with Dunn County Sheriff’s Office if you have any information pertinent to this investigation. This case was forwarded to the Dunn County District Attorney’s Office for formal charges.