Manhunt ongoing for man believed "dangerous" in Kettle Moraine Forest

WASHINGTON COUNTY (WITI) -- Officials in Washington County on Wednesday, April 24th were searching the Kettle Moraine State Forest for Larry Arnold. Authorities have been searching for Arnold for several days -- and on Wednesday, Arnold was reportedly spotted by more than one area resident.

Officials have described Arnold as "suspicious" and "possibly dangerous."

The Washington County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday alerted area residents and hikers of a suspicious person last seen in the northern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest -- after discovering a vehicle Arnold had reportedly driven to the area. Authorities had reportedly searched for Arnold over the weekend -- after finding his car on Saturday, April 20th.

38-year-old Arnold is a white male, 5'10" tall and weighing 160 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes.

On Wednesday, Arnold was discovered at a home in the Town of Kewaskum. Konstantyn Sadownikow was stopping at the home to do some work -- and found Arnold living there.

"I walked in the house and then this individual was in the house telling me that, please don't call the police. I'm not a bad guy. I've been hurt. My feet are frostbitten and I've been here for awhile," Sadownikow said.

Following his instincts, Sadownikow called 911 -- and Arnold fled into the woods.

Sheriff's officials say on Saturday April 20th, a vehicle was found abandoned on a snowmobile trail in the State Forest located 100 yards south of E. Moraine Dr. in the Town of Kewaskum. The vehicle was discovered by a hiker and reported to the Sheriff’s Office.  The last known operator of the vehicle was identified as Larry Arnold. The owner of the vehicle and Larry Arnold have resided together in the Boltonville area for the past year.  Arnold had permission to use the vehicle, but the owner had no idea why it was left abandoned on the trail. Arnold was last heard from earlier in the day on April 20th.

Because of the suspicious circumstances, the vehicle was removed and the area was searched by Deputies using an ATV and handheld FLIR ( infrared ) devices. A tracking dog from the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in a search of the area, however Arnold was not located.

On April 21-22, cadaver sniffing dogs from Great Lakes Search & Rescue were also deployed to the area without success in locating Arnold.  The Sheriff’s Office currently has no evidence that Arnold is still in the state forest at this time, however his whereabouts are unknown.

Arnold is currently wanted on outstanding felony warrants issued in 2010 by the Wood County Sheriff’s Office. The warrants are for bail jumping and contempt of court after he failed to make court appearances in a disorderly conduct case in Wood County.

Arnold is a known drug user and is currently registered as a sex offender in Wisconsin. He was convicted of Second-Degree Sexual Assault of a Child in 1995. He is not currently on supervision for that offense, but he is not in compliance with meeting registration requirements with the Sex Offender Registry Program. Arnold has a criminal history including charges of disorderly conduct, causing injury by OWI, eluding, resisting and obstructing and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Joseph Busalacchi also spotted Arnold on Wednesday. He lives about a mile north and east of the house Arnold was found in. He told FOX6 News he didn't realize at first who he was looking at.

"I yelled to him, you know, 'what are you doing?' And he said 'I'm jogging,'" Busalacchi said.

Another man, who was out turkey hunting on his father's property saw Arnold in the woods.

"I was sitting in a turkey blind hunting and a guy popped out of the brush about three feet away from me.  Ran right in front of me and just kept going. I just yelled 'hey' to him and said 'what are you doing?' He slowed down a little bit said he was a police officer and was looking for somebody on the run -- trying to head them off. I thought they'd get him right away because he looked pretty tired," the man told FOX6 News.

Arnold has not made any recent threats to harm himself or others. He is not known to be armed at this time. The Sheriff’s Office wishes to locate him for questioning and to take him into custody on the outstanding warrants. Due to his criminal history, the public should consider Arnold potentially dangerous.

If you believe you know the whereabouts of Larry Arnold or observe suspicious activity in the Kettle Moraine State Forest, please call the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 262-335-4411.