A manhunt that began Friday afternoon in Oconto Falls triggered emergency phone alerts to approximately 8,000 people in southern and central Oconto County.
In a message from Tim Magnin, director of Oconto County Emergency Management, people were told to be on the lookout for a white man, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing about 130 pounds, with short black hair and tattoos on his face, neck and arms. The message, sent about 5:30 p.m., cautioned people not to approach the man.
According to Oconto Falls Police Chief Brad Olson, officers spotted Justin T. Guarnera, 24, about 3 p.m. He was a passenger in a vehicle driving near the intersection of County Road I and Main Street in Oconto Falls.
Olson said the officer was aware Guarnera had a felony assault warrant filed against him in Maryland and a warrant for felon in possession of a firearm filed in Oconto County.
Before the officer could turn around the squad car and stop the vehicle, Guarnera fled on foot, running south through the parking lot of HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital toward the Oconto River.
Officers from several departments searched for Guarnera. An Oconto County K-9 unit tracking him lost his track along the river. Olson said he was notified Friday night that Guarnera was out of the area, and the search was called off.
Emergency management sent a second alert about 8:45 p.m. reporting the man had left the area.
The Times Herald was unable to confirm by press time if Guarnera was apprehended.
Magnin said the Oconto County Sheriff’s Department received some good leads from callers, but also calls from people “just talking about it,” which was not the goal of the emergency messages.
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