***UPDATE*** Boswell appeared in Washburn County Circuit Court today March 20, 2017 with his defense attorney and is set to return on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 for a preliminary examination hearing regarding his Felony charge for Taking and Operating a Vehicle Without Owner Consent. At the time of this post, Boswell remains in custody with a cash bail bond of $10,000.
A man wanted by the Washburn County Sheriff's Office is now in custody and faces criminal charges in Washburn County.
An arrest warrant was issued by Washburn County Circuit Court for David Boswell, of Hayward, WI on September 15, 2016 after he was identified as the individual who stole a vehicle from the Washburn County Courthouse parking lot on September 9, 2016. The Washburn County District Attorney's Office filed a charge of Taking & Driving a Vehicle Without Owner's Consent, a Class H Felony, against Boswell on September 15, 2016.
The Washburn County Sheriff's office told DrydenWire.com that Minnesota law enforcement originally picked up Boswell and that Washburn County authorities were waiting for the extradition process to finalize so that the Washburn County Sheriff's Office could bring Boswell back to Wisconsin to face his criminal charges here in Washburn County. That process was completed late last week and Boswell was transported to the Washburn County Jail.
According to the criminal complaint, Boswell had been arrested by the Wisconsin State Patrol on the morning of September 9, 2016 and following his release from the Washburn County Jail, Boswell was observed by employees on the first floor of the Courthouse attempting to access vehicles in the Courthouse parking lot.
The theft of the vehicle was reported to the Washburn County Sheriff's Office by the owner, an employee of the Washburn County Sheriff's Office. At that time, the victim of the vehicle theft also advised the Sheriff's Office that a handgun was inside the vehicle at the time it was stolen.
The complaint continues stating that the victim of the vehicle theft received a message on September 9, 2016 from an employee of the Shell Lake State Bank in Stone Lake, WI asking if a check belonging to him had been stolen as an unidentified man had just attempted to cash a check belonging to the vehicle owner.
The Washburn County Sheriff's Office investigated the theft of the vehicle and obtained surveillance photographs from Shell Lake State Bank in Stone Lake, WI which identified Boswell as the individual attempting to cash the check. Surveillance photos from the Stone Lake branch of the Shell Lake State Bank also showed the victim's vehicle at that bank on September 9, 2016.
A Lac Court Oreilles (LCO) Tribal Police Officer later engaged in a high-speed pursuit of the stolen vehicle in Sawyer County, which DrydenWire.com reported on at the time:
On Friday, September 9th, 2016, a stolen vehicle out of Washburn County was pulled over on Hwy K on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation. The suspect fled and a high-speed chase ensued. The pursuit of the vehicle continued into the Drytown community on the Reservation. It is believed that the vehicle was abandoned on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation and the suspect fled into the woods. The vehicle was reportedly stolen from the parking lot of the Washburn County Sheriffs Office/Courthouse. At that time it is also believed that the Drytown community was put in a lockdown and residents were advised to lock their doors. Washburn County dispatched an airplane to aid in the search. Airplanes and a helicopter remained in the air till dark. SWAT was activated and a manhunt continued into the night. As of this the time of this post, Mr. Boswell is not in custody. Calls to the Washburn County Sheriff's Office and the Sawyer County Sheriff's Department were not immediately returned.
The vehicle was later found abandoned on the LCO reservation in Sawyer County. The handgun was not found with the vehicle. Law enforcement conducted a search for Boswell, but did not locate him at that time.
Arrest warrants were also issued in November 2016 by Washburn County Circuit Court in relation to further charges against Boswell including Misdemeanor Retail Theft, and Operating a Motor Vehicle while Under the Influence of an Intoxicant as well as Operating While Revoked.
Public record shows that Boswell appeared in court for a bail bond hearing in Washburn County Circuit Court on March 14, 2017. The Court cancelled all warrants and set a $10,000 cash bail bond for Boswell. He is scheduled to appear again in Washburn County Circuit Court for an Initial Appearance regarding his criminal charges on March 20, 2017.
According to public record, Sawyer County Circuit Court still has arrest warrants active for Boswell on criminal charges of Disorderly Conduct, Misdemeanor Bail Jumping, and Operating While Revoked.
DrydenWire.com reminds our readers that individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until convicted by a judge or jury.
*Previous Story*
Man Wanted on Felony Auto Theft in Washburn County
Wednesday, December 28, 2016 | by Ben Dryden
Charges of Felony Auto Theft have been filed in Washburn County Circuit Court against David L. Boswell, Jr. resulting from an incident when a vehicle was stolen from Shell Lake, WI in September 2016.
DrydenWire.com reported first on the incident in which deputies from the Washburn County Sheriff's Office were assisted by the Sawyer County Sheriff's Department in the chase of the stolen vehicle and the subsequent investigation.
The vehicle was discovered abandoned on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation. Officers confirmed that Boswell had taken the vehicle and according to public record, charges were filed on September 15, 2016, for Taking and Driving a Vehicle Without Owner's Consent, a Class H Felony. A warrant was issued that same day by Washburn County Circuit Court for Boswell's arrest.
Boswell also faces charges in Washburn County for Misdemeanor Retail Theft and Operating a Motor Vehicle while Under the Influence of an Intoxicant as well as Operating While Revoked.
In Sawyer County, WI, Boswell is charged with Disorderly Conduct, Misdemeanor Bail Jumping, and Operating While Revoked.
There are active warrants for Boswell's arrest on all his pending charges in both Washburn County and Sawyer County.
According to public record, Boswell was convicted in Minnesota in March of 2016 for theft of movable property, and in June of 2011 for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of David L. Boswell, Jr., they should contact the Washburn County Sheriff's Office at 715-468-4700 or the Sawyer County Sheriff's Department at 715-634-5213.
Last Update: Mar 20, 2017 12:15 pm CDT
