MONTICELLO - Police say a Monticello man out on bond in a major New Glarus burglary case led officers on a foot chase through a marsh last week before they lost his trail.
Justin Wayne Wenger, 31, remains at large after the chase late Friday, Aug. 30. A warrant is out for his arrest.
Wenger was sitting with a group of people in his driveway at 502 W. Coates Ave. on the west side of Monticello at about 9:40 p.m. when officers tried to check on him for suspected probation violations, according to New Glarus Chief of Police Burt Boldebuck.
"We have reason to believe he was drinking," Boldebuck said. Wenger is also not supposed to be outside his home after 8 p.m., he said.
"As police approached the residence in squad cars, Wenger fled on foot," Boldebuck reported in a news release. Wenger then crossed Wisconsin 69 toward the east side of Monticello, through the marshy pond along the highway.
The Green County K-9 team was called in to track Wenger's scent, but police determined Wenger was picked up and driven off after he emerged from the marsh.
The Monticello Fire Department happened to be out around the same time on a call and assisted in the search. Also assisting were Green County deputies, Monticello police and the Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation.
Wenger and two other men, William Johnathan Wilke and Ryan J. Coyle, are charged in connection to the Sept. 2012 armed burglary of a New Glarus home during which an 800-pound gun safe and more than $150,000 in cash were stolen.
Wenger purchased a Ford Mustang and a Pontiac Grand Prix using the stolen cash, according to the criminal complaint. A civil case is pending against him to recover the vehicles.
In the criminal case, he faces felony charges of armed burglary, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and two counts of theft. He was released on a $2,000 cash bond and $18,000 signature bond.
Not-guilty pleas are entered in the case, and court records show he has a jury trial scheduled for November.
Wilke, 39, Stoughton, faces similar charges and also has a jury trial set for November.
Coyle, 24, Cottage Grove, faces felony charges of burglary and theft. He has a plea hearing scheduled Oct. 15.
Justin Wayne Wenger, 31, remains at large after the chase late Friday, Aug. 30. A warrant is out for his arrest.
Wenger was sitting with a group of people in his driveway at 502 W. Coates Ave. on the west side of Monticello at about 9:40 p.m. when officers tried to check on him for suspected probation violations, according to New Glarus Chief of Police Burt Boldebuck.
"We have reason to believe he was drinking," Boldebuck said. Wenger is also not supposed to be outside his home after 8 p.m., he said.
"As police approached the residence in squad cars, Wenger fled on foot," Boldebuck reported in a news release. Wenger then crossed Wisconsin 69 toward the east side of Monticello, through the marshy pond along the highway.
The Green County K-9 team was called in to track Wenger's scent, but police determined Wenger was picked up and driven off after he emerged from the marsh.
The Monticello Fire Department happened to be out around the same time on a call and assisted in the search. Also assisting were Green County deputies, Monticello police and the Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation.
Wenger and two other men, William Johnathan Wilke and Ryan J. Coyle, are charged in connection to the Sept. 2012 armed burglary of a New Glarus home during which an 800-pound gun safe and more than $150,000 in cash were stolen.
Wenger purchased a Ford Mustang and a Pontiac Grand Prix using the stolen cash, according to the criminal complaint. A civil case is pending against him to recover the vehicles.
In the criminal case, he faces felony charges of armed burglary, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and two counts of theft. He was released on a $2,000 cash bond and $18,000 signature bond.
Not-guilty pleas are entered in the case, and court records show he has a jury trial scheduled for November.
Wilke, 39, Stoughton, faces similar charges and also has a jury trial set for November.
Coyle, 24, Cottage Grove, faces felony charges of burglary and theft. He has a plea hearing scheduled Oct. 15.