Jakubowski captured after manhunt

JANESVILLE – After an intense,11-day  manhunt that had authorities on alert from Janesville to Washington, D.C., a man authorities say robbed a gun shop and made threats against the government officials and schools has been captured.

 

Authorities took Joseph A. Jakubowski, 32, of 811 Glenn St. on Janesville's near east side into custody in Richland County, April 13, 2017. The arrest was reported by WKOW-TV in Madison.

 

This story will be updated continuously throughout the morning.

 

A news conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, April 14 at the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport, 1716 West Airport Road, Janesville.

 

According to a release from the Rock County Sheriff's Office, at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13, the Vernon County Sheriff's Office received a report of a suspicious man on a farmer's property on Estes Road near Readstown in western Wisconsin.

 

Investigators assigned to the Jakubowski case were sent to that location along with tactical support to assist local authorities in determining whether the suspect was related to the manhunt.

 

The suspicious person complaint reported that a male matching the description of Jakubowski was camping at that location and refused to leave when asked to do so. Local authorities established a perimeter and tactical support was sent in to investigate.

 

Shortly before 6 a.m., tactical offices made contact with the man at the campsite, and he was taken into custody without incident. The man was identified as Joseph A. Jakubowski.

 

Arrangements are being made for Jaukbowski to be returned to Rock County for further investigation and charges, according to the release.

 

The saga began April 4, 2017, with a report of a burglary at the Armageddon Gun Shop, 2144 W.  U.S. Highway 14 where police say 18 high-end handguns and rifles, including an automatic weapon, were stolen. Surveillance video showed a suspect breaking the glass front door. A short time later, a vehicle fire was reported on Pennycook Lane and authorities linked the fire and gun shop robbery to Jakubowski.

 

Schools from Janesville to Fort Atkinson were put on soft lockdowns or extra alert status. The case took an ominous twist when police revealed the Jakubowski had written a 161-page anti-government manifesto, and delivered it to President Donald Trump.

 

By last Friday, Janesville public and private schools had closed at additional law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Secret Service had arrived in town to assist with the investigation.

 

Authorities had received more than 500 leads and followed up on each one. On several occasions, SWAT teams were sent to residences where Jakubowski was reported to be hiding, but in each case, police came away empty handed.

 

As a result of anti-religion sentiment depicted in Jakubowski's manifesto, local law enforcement has increased patrols at churches within their jurisdictions.

 

No disturbances have been reported at any local church. However, law enforcement did receive a suspicious circumstance report near St. Mary's Church, on East Wall Street in Janesville.