Charges of Felony Burglary, a Class F Felony, and Misdemeanor Theft have been filed in Washburn County Circuit Court against Michael Cox of Spooner, WI.
The Washburn County Sheriff's Office issued a press release on February 25, 2017, stating that they were seeking Michael Cox in connection with a burglary investigation. On March 3, 2017, DrydenWire.com reported that the Sheriff's Office confirmed that Cox was in custody in relation to the same investigation.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Cox, a Washburn County Sheriff's Deputy had contact with Cox on February 22, 2017. During that contact, Cox told the deputy that he was looking for birch poles to cut and had been going to residences to ask landowners if he could cut birch on their land.
After the deputy advised Cox that he needed a permit in order to cut timber on private land for any reasons other than firewood, Cox told the deputy that he would obtain the proper permits right away.
The criminal complaint continues, stating that when Cox drove away, the deputy noticed that Cox had a red Generac generator in the box of the red Chevy truck that he was driving at the time.
The deputy followed the tracks left by Cox's truck, which showed that Cox had driven onto a property on Gardner Lake Road. The deputy found wet marks on the cement floor of the shed on the property, indicating that someone had just been there.
The deputy contacted the landowners who came to the property and confirmed that they did own a red Generac generator and that no one had permission to remove it from the property.
After Cox was located and placed under arrest, the criminal complaint states that he admitted to officers that he had taken the generator seen by the deputy in Cox's truck and he told officers where it could be found. The generator was located and retrieved.
The landowners were able to identify the generator as their own after viewing a picture of it.
Public record indicates that Cox appeared in Washburn County Circuit Court on March 13, 2017, and that his next hearing is scheduled for March 21, 2017
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Washburn Co. Sheriff's Office Looking for Burglary Suspect
Saturday, February 25, 2017 | Washburn County Sheriff's Office
Press Release - Michael S. Cox is wanted by the Sheriff's Office in connection with a burglary last Thursday in Gull Lake Township. Cox's last known address is W7814 Keller Road, Township of Spooner, according to our arrest records. He is known to have associates in the Minong area. He was driving a Red Chevrolet Extended Cab Pick-up, that we believe was used in this burglary.
Mike should turn himself into the Washburn County Sheriff's Office, it is just a matter of time before apprehension. Anyone having information as to Cox's location or information please call the Washburn County Dispatch at 715-468-4720.
"Your eyes and ears frequently solve crimes and affect the arrests of those that commit crimes against your neighbor more often than not." -Sheriff Dryden
[Image via WCSO]
Last Update: Mar 14, 2017 10:27 am CDT
