VIROQUA, Wis. – After a number of reports of suspicious interactions with people from St Croix County to Readstown, two men were arrested in what authorities are describing as a “high risk” traffic stop in the Viroqua Walmart parking lot on Monday. Numerous residents who witnesses the arrest at Walmart commented on social media that a number of officers had surrounded a black SUV with guns drawn and had detained two individuals.
The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office have now identified those individuals as Alexandru Uca, 28, of Kent, Wash. and Armando Vaduva, 27, of Fullerton, CA.
According to the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office the arrests were made after an investigation into a number of reports from people in several communities in Western Wisconsin. The Sheriff’s Office said on May 30, the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office received a report that a male, traveling in a black colored SUV who approached the caller at a gas station located along Highway 64 in rural New Richmond, Wis., in the town of Cylon. The man told the caller he was out of gas, and in need of cash. The suspect offered to sell the victim jewelry. The victim reported seeing a firearm and the suspect made a statement the victim perceived as threatening.
After the exchange was made, it was determined the jewelry contained no precious metals, a misrepresentation. The St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office investigated a similar incident on June 4, and a statewide crime alert was issued to law enforcement agencies. On July 16, the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office received information indicating that an incident, with similarities as both incidents reported in St. Croix County, occurred the previous day, July 15th, near Readstown, Wis. The information was confirmed; however, the victim chose not to divulge their identity.
As a result of the investigations, deputies determined the Alabama license plate number for the suspect vehicle and the search continued.
Late Monday morning, July 29, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office received a report that individuals were ‘flagging down’ motorists and asking them for gas money along US Highway 14, near the village of Boaz, west of Richland Center, Wis. The same vehicle description was reported, and the vehicle was last seen traveling west, toward Vernon County.
At approximately 11:30 a.m., an alert deputy saw the vehicle traveling north on US Highway 14, at the intersection of State Highway 27, south of Viroqua. Because of the information that the occupant(s) may be armed, the deputy coordinated with other deputies and officers from the City of Viroqua to conduct a coordinated, high-risk stop.
The vehicle, a black, 2013 Chevrolet Suburban with Alabama license plate number 25C06NX was stopped without incident and the investigation continued. Cash and jewelry were seized. The vehicle was towed from the scene and impounded. Both Uca and Vaduva were transported to the Vernon County Jail.
Formal charges are being sought through the St. Croix County District Attorney. Uca is also being held for federal authorities. Assisting with the July 29 incident were the Richland County Sheriff’s Office and the Viroqua Police Department.
The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office are working with the United States Customs and Border Protection.
If you have any information about any of these crimes, contact the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office at 608-637-2123, or the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office at 715-386-4701, or your local law enforcement.
Add comment