Officers come knocking to clear warrants

Law enforcement officers have made their list and checked it twice. Now they’re gearing up for a warrant round-up.

Starting the first week of March, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department and Superior Police Department team up to crack down on people with outstanding warrants.

“We’re just trying to clear the books of some warrants, get some people held accountable, and try and gets some fines paid off,” said Douglas County Sheriff Tom Dalbec. The concerted effort could net revenue due the city, county and state that’s been sitting there like an unpaid bill.

“And the collection agency is knocking,” Dalbec said.

There are nearly 3,500 outstanding warrants in Douglas County, according to the Clerk of Courts Office. They include about 1,000 bench and arrest warrants for people who failed to appear in Douglas County Circuit Court. There are also about 2,500 commitment warrants for non-payment of fines. All of them are fair game, Dalbec said.

“The community has the expectation that those who commit offenses answer those charges and pay their monetary fines,” said Superior Police Chief Charles LaGesse. “It’s important financially for the city of Superior and Douglas County, but even more important is the issue of justice.”

Beginning in March, both departments will be dedicating officers to start tracking down some of these people, bringing them in and holding them accountable for their past deeds.

“This program is important because it will result in more offenders facing the legal sanctions for the violations they’ve committed,” LaGesse said.

Are you on the list? Check it out. All outstanding warrants are posted at www.douglascountywi.org under both the clerk of courts and sheriff’s department tabs.

Dalbec said he wanted to get the word out there that a roundup is coming and encourage citizens to check the list.

“Go to the Douglas County website, take a look on there to see if A, see if your name’s on there, B, if maybe a friend or relative is on there and let them know ‘Hey, you have a warrant outstanding. You better get it taken care of.’”

Tax season brings with it another reason to quash outstanding warrants. Douglas County can nab a person’s tax return money to pay those overdue fines.

People with an outstanding capias or commitment warrant can contact the Clerk of Courts office at 715-395-1499 or stop by the office in Room 309 of the Douglas County Courthouse, 1313 Belknap St., to pay off the fine or work out a payment arrangement.

According to the clerk of courts office, anyone with a bench or arrest warrant should contact the district attorney’s office, 715-395-1218, or stop by Room 201 of the courthouse building, to set up a new court date.

Tags: crime and courts, news, money, superior