Man Dies in Taylor County Farm Incident  Monday, April 22, 2024

A Taylor County man has died following at farming equipment incident.  On Sunday, April 21 at 1:43 p.m. the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a man trapped underneath a manure spreader near N8869 State Highway 73 in the Town of Jump River. Taylor County sheriff’s deputies along with fire, ambulance and other emergency services were dispatched.

Upon arrival of emergency services, the man was extracted from beneath the manure spreader and identified as 71-year-old Myron F. Brooks of Gilman. Brooks succumb to his injures and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sheriff’s Office investigation into the incident determined that Brooks had been pulling a manure spreader behind his tractor in a field south bound in route to help a neighbor. The neighbor went to look for Brooks because he was overdue and found him unresponsive and trapped underneath the manure spreader.  Tracks in the field indicate Brooks had turned around for an unknown reason and headed back north before striking a power pole. Brooks then fell from the tractor and was trapped under the manure spreader.

The cause of the accident is undetermined, but it is believed Brooks may have suffered a medical emergency causing him to lose control of the tractor which resulted in striking the utility pole then falling from the tractor and under the manure spreader.              

Traffic Crash O & C in Taylor County  Friday, April 19, 2024

We have an update on a recent traffic accident.  On Monday, April 15th at approximately 7:19 a.m. the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a two-vehicle accident with injuries near the intersection of County Road O and County Road C in the Town of Deer Creek. Fire and Ambulance services were also dispatched.

Investigation into the cause of the accident indicates the driver of a white van was traveling northbound on County Road C and drifted across the center line and into the south bound lane striking a black car that was traveling south bound. Preliminary findings indicate that the driver of the van had fallen to sleep which caused him to drift across the center line and into the path of the south bound vehicle.

Names are being withheld pending the investigation. The driver of the van sustained minor injuries, the driver of the black car was in critical condition and at the time of this Taylor County Sheriff Department release we have not been updated on that drivers medical condition.  

Zarins Sentenced  Friday, April 19, 2024

TAYLOR COUNTY, Wis. - An Athens man has been sentenced after a meth lab explosion in Taylor County left one person dead.

Court records show Matthew Zarins was sentenced to five years in prison and five years extended supervision.

Zarins plead guilty to homicide by negligent handling of dangerous weapon/explosive, maintain drug trafficking place in Taylor County Circuit Court on Wednesday, January 31st during a plea hearing and was convicted for his role in operating a meth lab that resulted in a woman’s death.

Four other charges related to manufacturing meth were dismissed but were  considered during his sentencing hearing on Thursday, April 18. By agreeing to the terms of the plea agreement, he avoided a jury trial.

According to the criminal complaint, on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, around 12:11 a.m., the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a structure fire on Clark Drive in the Town of Maplehurst.

The criminal complaint says Matthew Zarins reported his house was on fire. Zarins reported his wife was outside with him, but she had burn injuries.

Authorities learned there was no water and no electricity in Zarins house. The house was heated by burning wood. The home was burned down, more or less to the frame. The home consisted of a single-story camper style/mobile home.

According to the criminal complaint, authorities found many items consistent with manufacturing methamphetamine in and outside the property. During an interview with investigators, Zarins said he was trying to start a fire with wet wood, and they escaped out a window.

The criminal complaint says Zarins provided consent to search the camper.

According to the criminal complaint, authorities found “several items laying outside and inside the burned structure consisting of but not limited to the following: a glass mason jar lid with a plastic hose coming out of the top, a plastic bottle with a plastic hose coming out of the top, cans of Coleman fuel, multiple glass beakers, a glass beaker with what appeared to be tin foil wrapped around the top, a glass measuring cup glass mason jars, assorted glassware and vials, a glass smoking device with a hose wrapped around it consistent with smoking methamphetamine.   A fire chief advised he suspected there was drug activity at the structure.

According to court documents, special investigators tested a plastic bottle and hose laying outside on the ground. The hose tested positive for hydrochloric acid which is a necessary ingredient during the manufacturing of methamphetamine gassing process.

The criminal complaint says in an interview Zarins denied knowing anything or being involved in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Zarins admitted to smoking methamphetamine five days prior to when he was asked by authorities.

51 year old Jennifer Johnson of Stanley died Jan. 12th, 2023 at a Madison hospital due to the injuries she suffered in the incident.  Johnson suffered burns to 85% of her body. Zarins was also treated for burns.

Gun Death in Park Falls  Monday, April 15, 2024

PARK FALLS, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating a death in Park Falls that occurred on the afternoon of Saturday, April 13, 2024.

At approximately 4:09 p.m., officers with the Park Falls Police Department responded to reports of shots fired near the 600 block of 2nd Avenue North in Park Falls. When they arrived, officers found a deceased adult with multiple gunshot wounds. A handgun was found at the scene. A suspect has been taken into custody.

There is no danger to the public at this time.

DCI is leading this investigation and are assisted by the Park Falls Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Price County Sheriff’s Office, Phillips Police Department, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Woodruff Police Department, and Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.

DCI is continuing to review evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over investigative reports to the Price County District Attorney when the investigation concludes.