Cass County Sheriff Tom Burch reported that on Feb. 11 the Cass County Sheriff's Office received a report of a suspicious vehicle, as well as ATV traffic, in the area of 12th Street Southwest in Ponto Lake Township, rural Backus.
Deputies arrived in the area and began investigating fresh ATV tracks in seasonal residential driveways. Sgt. Jason Brogle and Deputy Chas Ratz located a male suspect at a seasonal property, where he was apprehended. Also located was an ATV that was later found to be stolen from a property in Pine River Township.
During the investigation deputies were able link the suspect to at least five other burglaries in the Lake Ada area and two burglaries committed last November in Ponto Lake Township. The male was identified as Richard Roubal, 27, of Pine River. Formal charges are pending and the investigation continues.
On Monday a search warrant was conducted at a residence in Pine River. Several additional items of stolen property were located. Dean Benedict, 37, of Pine River was taken into custody and formal charges are pending.
The Cass County Sheriff's Office reminds residents to immediately call the sheriff's office if they see suspicious activity in their neighborhoods. Try to gather as many details about the person or vehicle that you encounter and relay that information to sheriff's dispatchers.
ADVERTISEMENT
"At the time, these happenings might not seem like anything important, but they could come up in an investigation in the future," Burch said in a news release. "Law enforcement relies on its partnerships with citizens and community organizations to help in crime prevention and fighting."
