Suspect arrest by LCSO; charges are burlary/ assault

Lincoln County Sheriff Wade W. Magers reports that on November 6, 2013, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call around 5:30 a.m. reporting a man who was acting erratically and behaving unusual in the Lincoln area. Deputies Mark Stauffer and Calen Hayes responded and upon arriving learned the suspect was in the woods, as they could hear him yelling and screaming. Upon checking the area further deputies could hear banging sounds in the woods below them. The suspect was located walking from a residence in the area. The deputies made contact with the individual who continued to act erratically, would not respond to commands and appeared to be hallucinating.

Deputies attempted to talk the man into complying with their orders, but he would have no part of it. Eventually, the deputies were forced to go hands-on with the suspect, and he resisted violently, biting one deputy and spitting in their faces. The suspect was detained by Deputies Stauffer and Hayes, who then learned from an approaching homeowner, that the suspect had just broken into his home.

The suspect was reported by the homeowner to be wielding a splitting maul and threatening to kill the occupant. The suspect had gained entry into the house by breaking windows with the ax and forcing entry.

The suspect, Vern L. Eggerud, Jr., was arrested and has been charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree assault and two counts of third-degree assault. The suspect has been arraigned in court, and bail has been set at $50,000.