Two men accused of stealing fireworks
Jeremy S. Hosken, 27, and Jordan J. Nelmark, 20, both of New London, are charged with burglary and criminal damage to property.
On Monday, March 23, Waupaca County Deputy Bryan Strobusch met with the owner of a fireworks stand at the intersection of U.S. Highway 45 and State 22 in rural Bear Creek.
Someone broke into the building by prying open a blue door that had multiple locks.
The owner found a concrete spike with blue paint transfer among the pallets inside the store.
Although the building has security cameras, the burglars stole the digital video recorder.
Strobusch learned that there had been a disturbance complaint in the area about an hour after the estimated time of the break-in.
At 2:17 a.m. on March 23, the sheriff’s office received a call about fireworks near State 22 and Meidam Road, less that 3 miles from the burglary.
About 10 minutes later, Deputy Brittany Mathewson stopped a vehicle on State 22.
Hosken was the driver and Nelmark a passenger.
Mathewson also reported finding fireworks in the backseat.
According to the criminal complaint, the two men admitted to shooting the fireworks. They said they purchased the fireworks in Oshkosh.
Mathewson found a current address for the vehicle’s occupants on Bruce Street in New London.
Strobusch received a photo of spent fireworks from a Bear Creek farmer.
Similar to those reported stolen from the Bear Creek shop, the spent fireworks were found on State Highway 22.
Strobusch questioned Hosken, who reportedly led the deputy to a house in a trailer park on U.S. 45 in Sugarbush.
More than $1,500 worth of fireworks were found there, the complaint says.
Based on the photo, the store’s owner estimated nearly $1,400 worth of spent fireworks.
Hosken and Nelmark allegedly threw the DVR from their car.
Authorities not recovered it.
Deputy James Santiago viewed security video from the Citgo station across the street from the fireworks stand. He estimated the burglary took place shortly after 1 a.m.
A small amount of marijuana was found in Hosken’s vehicle.
Both Hosken and Nelmark are summoned to appear in court on May 26.