Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RICHARD JENKINS
Ironwood — Additional charges have been brought against an Ironwood man arrested over the weekend.
Daniel Allan Erickson, 28, had been arrested at approximately 1 a.m. Sunday on a charge of possession of burglar’s tools — a felony with a possible maximum punishment of up to 10 years in prison.
On Wednesday, a Gogebic Iron Area Narcotics Team spokesman announced additional charges against Erickson.
The new charges are the result of the continued investigation into Erickson, according to GIANT’s press release, which led authorities to connect him to a number of alleged crimes throughout the wider region.
“As time progressed, local agencies were able to start linking different investigations together. The investigation spread throughout Gogebic County and Iron County, Wis.,” a GIANT spokesman said in the release. “Officers also have information leading them to believe Erickson may have committed other, similar crimes in other counties in Wisconsin.”
In Gogebic County, Erickson has been charged with two additional felony counts of possession of burglar’s tools; one count of possession of a dangerous weapon, a five-year felony; and one count of breaking and entering with intent to commit larceny from an Ironwood business, a 10-year felony.
Gogebic County Prosecutor Nick Jacobs told the Daily Globe the weapon was brass knuckles Erickson allegedly possessed.
In Iron County, District Attorney Matthew Tingstad authorized two felony counts on Erickson. The first count was burglary of a building — a 12 year, six month felony — and felony bail jumping, which carries a penalty of up to six years in prison.
According to the criminal complaint, filed in Iron County Circuit Court Monday, the burglary charge stems from a Nov. 24, 2016 break-in of a Lower Block establishment.
Employees of the business reported the building had been broken into several times over the past four to six months, according to the complaint, apparently by someone with knowledge with the business as the power was cut to turn off the cameras. After installing battery-operated cameras, a man was filmed during one of the break-ins. The man, identified by the employees as Erickson in the complaint, had previously managed the establishment.
The amount taken from the three alleged break-ins equalled $2,049.
Wisconsin Court records also indicate, according to the complaint, Erickson is currently on bond in Portage County which requires he not commit any crimes. GIANT previously said Erickson recently moved to Ironwood from Stevens Point.
Additional charges may be brought in the case.
“The investigation still continues in multiple jurisdictions,” the GIANT spokesman said, “and additional charges will be requested on other incidents where Erickson is believed to have involvement with.”
Erickson is being held at the Gogebic County jail on a $200,000 bond, 10 percent of which must be posted for his release. The state of Wisconsin also has a hold on him, should he post bond in Michigan.
