Jakubowski captured in Richland County

Law enforcement got tip last night

RICHLAND CENTER, Wis. — Joseph Jakubowski was captured early Friday morning in western Richland County, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Richland County Sheriff James Bindl said they got their first tip last night at 7:10 p.m.Thursday about Jakubowski on a piece of land near the Vernon/Richland County line.

The Rock County sheriff’s department said Vernon County got a tip of a suspicious person on a farmer’s property on Estes Road near Readstown. Investigators from Rock County headed to that location to assist local authorities to determine if the person involved was indeed Jakubowski.

Four different counties sheriff departments participated in the search the rest of the evening. But sheriff’s officials said Jakubowski was apprehended peacefully just before 6 a.m. in the area near County Highway U in Richland County.

The sheriff said law enforcement officials are breathing a “sigh of relief” that Jakubowski has finally been caught. He said the search couldn’t have ended better.

He said 10 homes near the piece of land where Jakubowski was found had to be evacuated during the manhunt.

A briefing about the event happened at Kickapoo High School south of Viola just before 8 a.m.

Jakubwoski, 32, is wanted in connection with the April 4 burglary and theft of multiple firearms from Armageddon Supplies, a gun and ammunition store in Janesville, and the arson nearby of a vehicle registered to him less then 30 minutes later.

Vernon County sheriff’s officials have confirmed that all roads closed earlier Friday in connection with police activity have reopened as of 7:30 a.m.

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