Joseph Jakubowski (FBI photo)
A Janesville man at the center of a nationwide manhunt was arrested at 6 a.m. Friday south of Viola, according to the Vernon County and Richland County sheriff’s offices.
The fugitive, Joseph Jakubowski, 32, was apprehended off County Highway U, near the Vernon and Richland county line.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, police had received a tip that Jakubowski had been spotted. After establishing a perimeter, multiple law enforcement agencies worked throughout the night, plus the FBI responded. In the morning, Jakubowski was taken into custody without incident and was transported to Rock County Jail in Janesville.
Police found firearms in the area where Jakubowski had been apprehended.
Jakubowski had been wanted for questioning in the April 4 theft of multiple weapons from the Armageddon Gun Store in Janesville, the arson of Jakubowski’s vehicle, and alleged messages detailing his intention to threaten public safety.
On Tuesday, the FBI set a $20,000 award for information leading to Jakubowski’s capture.
The following agencies assisted the Vernon and Richland sheriff’s offices in arresting Jakubowski: the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office, the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wisconsin State Patrol, the Readstown Police Department, the La Farge Police Department, the Richland Center Police Department, the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation, the West Central Metropolitan Enforcement Group, the Middleton Fire Department (UAV air support), the Readstown EMS and Kickapoo Rescue Squad.
