Grand Jury Returns Dunn County Indictments

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.

Chippewa Falls Man Charged with Possessing Methamphetamine for Distribution

Justin Barnard, 36, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine for distribution. The indictment alleges that he possessed the methamphetamine on November 23, 2020.

If convicted, Barnard faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the West Central Drug Task Force, Menomonie Police Department, and Dunn County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Kraus is handling the prosecution.

Suspected Drunk Driver Causes Serious Wrong-Way Freeway Crash - Highway 29 - Town of Elk Mound

Shortly before 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, the Dunn County Communications Center received a report of a wrong-way driver travelling Westbound in the eastbound lanes of STH 29 from mile marker 66 in Chippewa County. At 8:30 p.m., the Dunn County Communications Center received a report of a head-on crash on STH 29 near mile marker 62 in the Township of Elk Mound, County of Dunn.

The Dunn County Sheriff's Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin DNR, Colfax EMS, and Elk Mound Fire Department responded to the scene. Upon arrival, deputies determined there were three vehicles involved in the crash and that there were non-life threatening injuries to the occupants.

The preliminary investigation indicates the wrong-way driver was operating a GMC Sierra westbound in the eastbound lanes of STH 29. There were two eastbound vehicles, a BMW and a Chevrolet Silverado that were struck head-on by the wrong-way driver.

There were three reported injuries that are non-life threatening in nature. The eastbound lanes of STH 29 were shut down as a result of the crash for an hour and a half.

Alcohol and/or drugs are believed to be contributing factors in the crash. The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office.

Fatal Crash - Menomonie Township

At 2:48 a.m. on Sunday, January 3, 2021, the Dunn County Communications Center received a report of a single vehicle crash on CTH BB, just north of USH 12 in Menomonie township.

The Dunn County Sheriff's Office and Menomonie Fire Department responded to the scene. Upon arrival, deputies located a lone unresponsive male in a 2008 Chevrolet, Envoy SUV in the field north of CTH BB.

The preliminary investigation indicates the SUV was north bound on 390th St. and failed to stop for the stop sign at USH 12. The vehicle crossed USH 12 onto CTH BB, and a short time later left the roadway striking a large tree. The vehicle sustained severe front end damage from impacting the tree, and later came to rest in a cut corn field.

The Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene and pronounced the 24-year-old male driver, from Elk Mound, deceased at the scene.

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

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