Live in the Country?

Shortly after 5:30 a.m. this morning, my wife asked if I were awake; and when I said yes, she told me that there were cars out on KK (County Road KK) shining spotlights toward our propertyand that one of them had driven up our driveway. She told me to call the sheriff. A deputy answered and informed me the cars were police officers. I asked her why they were there and she said they were looking for fugitives. She said that there was a traffic stop on Hwy. 63 south of the REA (that's Pierce-Pepin Co-op) and that two men got out and fled. She said that the truck and trailer they were driving were stolen. She said that dogs had picked up the scent and were following the men who were about 5-10 and wearing camoflauge clothes and black caps. She told me to take the keys out of our car and to keep our doors locked (we always take the keys out of our car and lock it and keep our house doors locked) and to call back if we see them.

This is the story on our local newspaper's Web site:

A manhunt is under way in Pierce County for two men believed to be wearing brown camouflage jackets and stocking hats who fled on foot following a traffic stop by a Pierce County Sheriff's Department deputy.

According to Everett Muhlhausen, Pierce County Sheriff, the manhunt started at approximately 3 a.m. in the area of the intersection of Highway 63 and Pierce County KK in Trenton Township south of Ellsworth.

Muhlhausen said that the deputy noticed a truck towing a trailer and several all terrain vehicles and thought that it was odd that the truck would be doing that so late at night.

Once the deputy pulled the vehicle over the two occupants fled on foot into nearby woods.

After checking on the vehicle it was learned that the trailer and ATVs were reported stolen from a dealer in Pepin County and that the truck was from a dealer in Wabasha County, Minn.

K-9 units from both Pierce County and Wabasha County were used to track the pair.

"We tracked them south, but lost their trail," Muhlhausen said.

At 9:15 a.m. Mulhausen said that they had stopped using the dogs because the trail had gone cold.

"We have no reason to believe that they've left the area," Muhlhausen said.

Unmarked police vehicles could be seen throughout the area south of Ellsworth. Pierce County law enforcement authorities were checking barns and sheds throughout the area.

Mulhausen warned area residents to keep their doors locked and to call 911 if they notice anything out of the ordinary.

"If you find anything suspicious, anything out of place or anything missing give us a call," Muhlhausen said.

Muhlhausen believes that if the two are apprehended it could mean a major break in several thefts that have occurred in Wisconsin and Minnesota.