Dunn County (WQOW)- One week after claiming the Menomonie bar he was working in was held up at gunpoint, a man admits he lied to investigators.
The Dunn County Sheriff's Office says Robert Lawson told deputies that the robbery did not happen and that he had taken the money from the Veteran's Center of Menomonie without anyone's permission.
Lawson had previously told deputies that a suspect wearing a black hoodie, black plants and sunglasses came into the bar with a pistol demanding money. He claimed the armed robbery happened on February 22nd and that the suspect made off with around $1,000 in cash.
Lawson was arrested following his confession. Some of the stolen money was recovered. The case is being forwarded to the Dunn County District Attorney for charges.
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Dunn County (WQOW) - Just two weeks after getting back on their feet, a setback for a local veterans group.
The Veterans Center of Menomonie had been closed for several months in a dispute with their parent organization, the Disabled American Veterans. Both sides recently reached agreement to part ways. Local veterans then re-opened the banquet hall and bar with hopes of running it as a non-profit. But Wednesday night, a man armed with a gun, robbed the bar, and made off with a large amount of cash. The center director says it's a big setback for the group, but says it will not stop them from their mission of assisting local vets and other area residents in need.
The Dunn County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with any information on the robbery to call 715-232-1348.
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Dunn County (Press Release) - On February 22, 2012, around 9:10 p.m., the Dunn County Communications Center received a 911 call of an armed robbery at the Veterans Center of Menomonie in the Town of Menomonie.
The Dunn County Sheriff's Office responded and it was reported that a male subject dressed in all black entered the bar and showed a handgun. He demanded money and left the bar with an undisclosed amount of money.
The Dunn County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the incident and asks that anyone who may have information about the robbery or may have seen any vehicles in the parking lots around that time, contact the Dunn County Sheriff's Office at 715-232-1348.
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Dunn County (WQOW)- Shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday night there was a report of an armed robbery at a business just outside of Menomonie.
Law enforcement released no details, but WQOW News 18 spoke with the employee of a convenience store in Menomonie.
He said police are going around to businesses to give them a heads up about the armed robbery that happened, telling employees that a gun was shown and they're looking for a suspect.
Stay tuned to WQOW News 18 both online and on-air for more on this story as it develops.
