For the City-Times

A quick and effective response by an off-duty Wisconsin State Patrol trooper at his home in the middle of the night on Monday, Feb. 17 resulted in the arrest of a suspect who authorities believe burgled residences in at least four counties in northern Wisconsin.

Trooper Jim Binder of the North Central Region—Wausau Post awoke to let a pet outdoors at his home in Waupaca County at about 2:20 a.m. on Monday. A strange car was in parked in his driveway about 100 yards from the home. He immediately got dressed, put on his State Patrol duty belt with his issued sidearm, and went to investigate.

Near the unoccupied vehicle, he encountered a subject whose legs were covered with snow. Binder identified himself as a State Patrol trooper and questioned the subject, who claimed that his vehicle had run out of gas. After further questioning by the trooper, the subject admitted to entering a shed on the property. The trooper handcuffed the subject and held him in custody. The Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department was contacted and deputies responded to transport the subject to their jail.

Binder and deputies searched the area and found that power tools, a shotgun, and other items had been removed from the shed.

According to State Patrol Lt. Steven Krueger, additional stolen items were found in the vehicle. There have been several similar burglaries in the area that may be linked to this individual, including residential break-ins in Door County and northeast Wisconsin. Search warrants are being obtained and the investigation continues.

“Trooper Binder demonstrated exceptional professionalism in responding to a potentially dangerous situation under stressful conditions,” Krueger says.