By Shereen Siewert
UPDATED: A Wausau man on the run who was captured late Saturday in Rothschild is facing multiple new felony charges including arson and reckless endangerment in connection with two fires, including one at a sober living home, according to a Marathon County Jail report.
A Wisconsin Department of Corrections warrant was issued for 28-year-old Alexander Krohn last week. Thanks to a citizen tip, Krohn was located at about 11:20 p.m. Saturday in the 700 block of Grand Avenue in Rothschild, police said.
Court records show Krohn was convicted in 2019 of fleeing an officer and possession of methamphetamine. He was released in October 2020 from prison and already had two new open cases pending in Marathon County Circuit Court before his weekend arrest.
The latest case stems from a call at about 12:30 a.m. Dec. 18 regarding a structure fire at a home in the 300 block of North Third Avenue, a sober living home. When crews arrived, heavy smoke was pouring from the second story of the building. All residents were accounted for except for Krohn. The blaze began in Krohn’s room, according to the police report, and a resident told police he opened the door of the room to see flames after smelling smoke and hearing a smoke detector alarm.
Police say Krohn did not properly notify staff he was leaving, nor did he sign out. Officers noted that five smoke detectors were removed completely and one had batteries removed. Two, which were not easily accessible, remained in the building, according to court records
Fire crews extinguished the blaze, but Krohn’s room was heavily damaged, police said.
During the time that crews were battling the Third Avenue blaze, a second fire was reported in the 1400 block of Lake Street, a home owned by Krohn’s estranged father. Two people inside the home said they were sleeping when they were awakened by a loud crash. The two residents then saw flames on the south side of the home, which was heavily damaged in the blaze.
Jail records show Krohn is now facing two counts of arson of a building without the owner’s consent, three counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, two counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety, along with charges of resisting or obstructing an officer and bail jumping.
During a court appearance Tuesday, Circuit Judge LaMont Jacobson ordered Krohn held on a $30,000 cash bond. He is also jailed on a probation violation. A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 29.
