Fatal House Fire - Town of Red Cedar

On April 2, 2023 at approximately 2:24 PM, the Dunn County Communication Center received a call from an individual reporting a structure fire at a residence in the N5700 block of CTY TK E, Town of Red Cedar, Dunn County, Wisconsin. The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and Menomonie Fire Department were dispatched to the scene. Heavy smoke and flames were visible.

While engaging the fire, firefighters located a person in the residence. The person located, a 74 year-old male, was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Dunn County Medical Examiner. The cause and origin of the fire remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit and Menomonie Fire Department.

Also assisting at the scene was the Colfax Fire Department.

Sheriff Kevin Bygd

News Release D23-00529 Fatal Structure Fire

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Vehicle Pursuit Ends in Dunn County, Deputy Deploys Less-Lethal

On Saturday, April 1, 2023 the Dunn County Communications Center dispatched Dunn County Sheriffs' deputies to assist with a vehicle pursuit entering Dunn County. The Chippewa County Sheriff's Office and Wisconsin State Patrol were pursuing a vehicle and advised that the vehicle had rammed squad cars in Chippewa County. The suspect's tires had already been deflated and it was still refusing to stop.

The pursuit ended near Highway 64 and CTY TK W North in Dunn County when the vehicle entered the ditch and became disabled. The suspect continued to refuse commands of law enforcement. A Dunn County Sheriff's deputy deployed a "Less-Lethal" bean bag round to the upper thigh of the suspect and he then surrendered.

The suspect was taken into custody safely and without further incident. The suspect was identified as 40 year-old Mitchell Ludke of Knapp, WI, Dunn County.

Chippewa County Sheriff advises that Ludtke now faces three counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, felony bail jumping, operating while intoxicated, knowingly fleeing, misdemeanor bail jumping, operating after revocation, and two counts of felony criminal damage to property.

Fatal Fire - Town of New Haven

On March 26, 2023 at approximately 6:57 PM, the Dunn County Communication Center

received a call from an individual who advised of a structure fire at a residence with a person

still trapped in the residence. The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the Boyceville Fire

Department responded to scene at E971 1330th Ave in the Township of New Haven, Dunn

County, Wisconsin.

The residence was fully engulfed in fire upon the arrival of fire personnel. Boyceville Fire

Department along with Sand Creek Fire, Glenwood City Fire, Clear Lake Fire, Clayton Fire and

Prairie Farm Fire worked for several hours to extinguish the fire.

On March 27, 2023 the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office along with Boyceville Fire Department, the

State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office located human

remains in the residence while processing the scene.

The cause and origin of the fire remains under investigation. The Medical Examiner’s Office

and Dunn County Sheriff’s Office are working to confirm the identity of the victim

Sheriff Kevin Bygd