Kiel man who led authorities on a manhunt Thursday charged with theft
Sharon Roznik
FOND DU LAC - A 35-year-old Kiel man who led authorities on a manhunt through Horicon Marsh remains in jail on a $10,000 cash bond.
Richard Erdmann was arrested Thursday night after Dodge County Sheriff's deputies and Horicon police had searched for him from early morning into the afternoon. The hunt was called off when authorities failed to locate him.
Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt did not provide details on Erdmann's subsequent arrest later that evening.
Early that morning Fond du Lac County 911 received a call that said Erdmann was armed and making threats to harm himself. The caller also said the 35-year-old threatened to "do suicide by cop," according to sheriff's logs.
Erdmann had been staying at the Royal Oaks Motel on State 33 in the town of Hubbard, and fled into an adjacent marsh when deputies arrived.
He was wanted in Fond du Lac County for failing to appear in court last year for felony theft charges involving a roofing job gone bad.
The defendant, doing business as TGR Roofing, was contracted in the fall of 2017 to work on a residence in the town of Calumet. The property owners said Erdmann never obtained a building permit and the work was never completed, leaving the residence with only tarpaper covering the roof, court records state.
During this time the residence was damaged when rain leaked through the roof, at an estimated cost of $9,000 for repairs, paid through an insurance claim.
Erdmann told the property owners he was not completing the project and was not returning $4,800 that had been paid to him in advance for the job. He later agreed that he should pay back some of the money.
The search for the 35-year-old involved Wisconsin State Patrol aircraft and police dog.
If convicted of felony theft, Erdmann faces up to three and half years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
He also has open cases in Calumet County for operating after revocation in 2017 and bail jumping in 2018, and charges filed against him in Manitowoc County for operating after revocation and two counts of bail jumping from 2018.
Erdmann is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 23 for a preliminary hearing.
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Contact Sharon Roznik at 920-907-7936 or sroznik@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/reporterroz/