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Explosive items found in Kewaunee County

Posted at 10:52 PM, Dec 01, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-01 23:52:35-05

ALGOMA, WI --  A 37-year-old Kewaunee County man is in custody tonight, after a search warrant for his property uncovered explosives.

 

And neighbors say it isn't the first time the property has been visited by police. 

 

The Kewaunee County Sheriff's Department says they executed the search warrant just before 8:45 this morning, in the Town of Ahnapee, in search of evidence of possession of explosives. 

 

In a written statement, Sheriff Matt Joski says deputies found "five specific explosive items" in the search.

 

Both Brown and Door County Deputies aided in the search, along with the Brown-Outagamie County Bomb Squad. 

 

Richard Piesler, of Casco, was driving by the scene along State Highway 54 this morning.

 

"I had to find out what was going on," says Piesler, "when do you see a bomb squad in Algoma? Never!"

 

He says he watched it all unfold from across the street, "right straight across there, yep," points Piesler.

 

Like others, Piesler watched from Inside B's Light House Inn, just across Highway 54 from the 11 acre property. 

 

"And then I watched it through the back window, and I see people go from one garage to the outside," explains Piesler.

 

"I [saw] a S.W.A.T. Team coming out, and Sheriffs across the street again," says Michael Verhaagh, who runs B's Light House Inn, "and I was going, 'what's going on now?'"
 
When it comes to excitement like today's raid next door, Verhaagh says he prefers to "pretty much keep to myself. I run my bar." 
 
But Verhaagh adds that it's not the first time police have been called to the property. 
 
"I don't like it," says Verhaagh, "it's bad for my business when stuff like that is happening." 
 
The bomb squad is currently analyzing all items seized during today's raid. 
 
The suspect has not been charged with a crime as of yet.
 
The Kewaunee Co. Sheriff's Department says he's being held on a probation hold.