Two people suspected of vandalizing Chaseburg church arrested

CHASEBURG, Wis. – Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson reports the arrests of two people suspected of intentionally damaging a church in the rural Chaseburg/Stoddard area. A Sheriff’s report about the incident states that at about 3:15 on Tuesday afternoon the Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch Center was notified that two people were actively destroying property at the St. Peters Lutheran Church located on County Road K, 3.5 miles northwest of Chaseburg in the Town of Hamburg.

The report states that when confronted by the witness who called the Sheriff’s Office, both individuals fled the area in a vehicle.  The witness provided the 911 dispatcher with a description of the vehicle and that information was relayed to the responding officers. Upon arrival of a sheriff’s deputy and a state trooper, damage was discovered, and an investigation began.

While the deputy remained at the scene, the state trooper joined other officers in search of the vehicle.  At approximately 4:20 p.m., just over an hour from the initial call, the state trooper saw a vehicle on County Road K-O, near the intersection of Levendoski Lane, about nine miles from the crime scene.  This vehicle was consistent with the description of the vehicle given by the witness at the scene; however, there were no license plates on the vehicle. The trooper stopped the vehicle and the sheriff’s deputy responded to where the vehicle was stopped.

One individual was identified as Emmett Price Rathert, 22, of La Crosse, Wis.  The other occupant identified herself as Kyat Lin Oo, 22, of St. Paul, Minn., but her identity is still being confirmed.  The investigation continued and both were individuals were taken into custody and transported to the Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.  Through further investigation, it was determined that the Wisconsin license plates, numbered ACT7066, had been removed shortly after the vehicle fled the scene.

Both Rathert and the female are being held for a bail hearing in Vernon County Circuit Court.  Formal charges will be sought through Vernon County District Attorney Angela Palmer-Fisher.  A charge is merely an accusation.  The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

If you have information on the current location of the license plates, please call the Sheriff’s Office at (608) 637-2123.

Assisting the Sheriff’s Office were the Coon Valley Police Department, La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office, La Crosse Police Department, and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

The incident remains under active investigation.  

“I am thankful to serve with such a wonderful team,” said Sheriff Roy Torgerson. “I am grateful for the wonderful working relationship with our partnering agencies.  Today’s teamwork was exceptional.”

If you have any information about this crime or any other crimes, call Crime Stoppers at (608) 637-TIPS (8477) or submit an online tip at www.p3tips.com  When contacting Crime Stoppers, they will not ask for your name—they only want your information.