Botched drug deal ends in shooting; 6 arrested

The Capital Times  —  10/01/2008 12:48 pm

A botched drug deal that apparently turned into an attempted robbery Tuesday night in the town of Albion ended up with shots being fired and six people arrested.

According to the Dane County Sheriff's Office, all six are believed involved in trying to rob the two victims of drug money, and the victims fled in an SUV as a half-dozen rounds were fired at them.

The incident took place about 11:25 p.m. at the Highwood Club House, 80 Forest Ave.

Arrested were Anna Fern, 17, Edgerton; Jacklyn Butson, 17, Newville; Patrick Butler, 20, Janesville; Justin Paysen, 19, Evansville; Christopher Crownover, 20, Janesville; and Cortez Tucker, 18, Janesville.

All but Fern were arrested during a traffic stop on Interstate 90 at U.S. 14 just outside Janesville after Edgerton police, Rock and Dane County sheriff's deputies and the Wisconsin State Patrol were alerted to look for a white van allegedly used during the attempted armed robbery.

Fern, who detectives believe is responsible for planning the robbery, was arrested Wednesday morning when she arrived for classes at Blackhawk Technical College.

The eight people involved in the incident face charges of attempted armed robbery and party to a crime, while Tucker, the alleged shooter, also faces a charge of carrying a concealed weapon and recklessly endangering safety.

A .22-caliber handgun was found in the van at the time of the traffic stop, according to a Dane County Sheriff's Office report.

According to the report, the group of six planned to rob the two victims of drug money, but no money was exchanged, because the victims got suspicious that the drug deal wasn't going as planned and attempted to leave the scene. While they were driving away, six shots were fired at the SUV, with two rounds hitting the vehicle.

No one was injured during the shooting.

The Capital Times  —  10/01/2008 12:48 pm