Fatal Lightning Strike - Town of Menomonie

On Aug 24, 2021 about 11:11 AM the Dunn County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call from a construction crew working on at a construction site 390th St in Town of Menomonie reporting 2 males were down and had possibly been struck by lightning. One male was reported to be not breathing.

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and Menomonie Fire and Rescue responded to the scene. Two male patients were located at the scene. One suffering from suspected serious injuries and the other was not breathing. Immediate medical attention was given to both patients however despite efforts to revive the 60-year-old male, he was pronounced deceased at the scene by The Dunn County Medical Examiner’s office. The other patient a 20-year-old male was transported to Mayo Eau Claire by Menomonie Fire and Rescue with suspected serious injury.

Preliminary investigation shows a crew was working on a pole shed construction. They were working under a partial roof. The two injured employees were on ladders when lighting struck in the area. Both were knocked off their ladders. The crew had stopped working due to weather and when the weather broke they started to work again. Shortly after starting to work again the lighting struck.

This case remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Names will be released at a later date pending notification of next of Kin.

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.