DARLINGTON - Through a joint effort by three different law enforcement agencies, three people were arrested in connection to a number of thefts from vehicles throughout Lafayette County in the last two months.
Blake James Hibner, 20, Cassville, and Aaron Neil Coley, 19, Benton, were each arrested on two counts of theft of a firearm. Kethan Alan Rood, 21, Platteville, was arrested, booked and released on theft charges stemming from an incident in Cuba City.
According to the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office, a warrant was obtained to search a residence in the village of Benton on Wednesday. Two handguns were stolen from vehicles, one in Benton and the other in Cuba City.
Hibner and Coley are being held pending a court appearance for the thefts.
Each also faces a count of burglary for allegedly breaking into Benton Bible Church during the night of Jan. 13. The three are also possible suspects in thefts from vehicles in other areas of Wisconsin and in Iowa, according to the department.
Sheriff Reg Gill said the arrests were part of collaborative work between the sheriff's department and officers with the Benton Police Department and Cuba City Police Department. After obtaining a search warrant, the Emergency Response Team, including officers from the Lafayette and Green County Sheriff's Office and Monroe Police Department searched 289 2nd Street in Benton.
Green County EMS, Benton First Response, Hazel Green EMS and the Benton Fire Department assisted at the scene.
Gill said the police response was escalated due to reports of the guns being "fully loaded" when they were taken.
"We thought they might be armed," he said.
Officers were able to access the home and talk to six occupants. Five were detained for more questioning before Hibner, Coley and Rood were arrested. Rood and a male juvenile are also facing charges for possessing drug paraphernalia and marijuana.
Investigation of the group began after thefts from vehicles were originally reported in Shullsburg, which would have happened in the early morning hours of Dec. 21, and later included the other departments joined the investigation.
Blake James Hibner, 20, Cassville, and Aaron Neil Coley, 19, Benton, were each arrested on two counts of theft of a firearm. Kethan Alan Rood, 21, Platteville, was arrested, booked and released on theft charges stemming from an incident in Cuba City.
According to the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office, a warrant was obtained to search a residence in the village of Benton on Wednesday. Two handguns were stolen from vehicles, one in Benton and the other in Cuba City.
Hibner and Coley are being held pending a court appearance for the thefts.
Each also faces a count of burglary for allegedly breaking into Benton Bible Church during the night of Jan. 13. The three are also possible suspects in thefts from vehicles in other areas of Wisconsin and in Iowa, according to the department.
Sheriff Reg Gill said the arrests were part of collaborative work between the sheriff's department and officers with the Benton Police Department and Cuba City Police Department. After obtaining a search warrant, the Emergency Response Team, including officers from the Lafayette and Green County Sheriff's Office and Monroe Police Department searched 289 2nd Street in Benton.
Green County EMS, Benton First Response, Hazel Green EMS and the Benton Fire Department assisted at the scene.
Gill said the police response was escalated due to reports of the guns being "fully loaded" when they were taken.
"We thought they might be armed," he said.
Officers were able to access the home and talk to six occupants. Five were detained for more questioning before Hibner, Coley and Rood were arrested. Rood and a male juvenile are also facing charges for possessing drug paraphernalia and marijuana.
Investigation of the group began after thefts from vehicles were originally reported in Shullsburg, which would have happened in the early morning hours of Dec. 21, and later included the other departments joined the investigation.