Wisconsin Man With 10 Warrants Hides in Dumpster After Fleeing Traffic Stop; Retiring K9 Sam Finds Him Anyway
Dodgeville, Wis. — A traffic stop that started with a reported Walmart theft ended with a man being found inside a dumpster, a K9 nearing retirement adding another capture to his résumé, and a second suspect facing bail-jumping charges.
The Iowa County Sheriff's Office said deputies and Dodgeville police responded to a theft at a Walmart in Dodgeville on Friday, Aug. 28. Sgt. Nathan Kennicker and his K9 partner Sam spotted a vehicle matching the description tied to the incident and initiated a traffic stop.
According to the Sheriff's Office, the driver got out, ignored commands, retrieved an object from the vehicle and ran. Instead of sending officers blindly into the area, authorities called in more deputies, another K9 team and the department's Drone Team. Sam picked up the trail and tracked the suspect to a parking lot near a local business. There, deputies found the man hiding inside a dumpster.
The driver was identified as Jeffery Raymond Hohmann, 37, of Granton. He was out on bond through Dane County at the time. A records check revealed 10 outstanding warrants, nine open felony cases in Dane County, and four open misdemeanor cases in Columbia County — a stack of existing legal trouble that made the foot chase all the more striking.
Hohmann's arrest also produced a substantial list of new referrals, including resisting or obstructing an officer, operating while revoked and a violation of an ignition interlock device requirement. More significantly, the Sheriff's Office referred 27 counts of felony bail jumping and 12 counts of misdemeanor bail jumping. With multiple open cases already, the new allegations add another layer of potential consequences.
Back at the vehicle, the investigation wasn't finished. Deputy Benisch and K9 Fenix conducted an open-air sniff around the car, after which Dodgeville police arrested Troy W. Clark, 53, of McFarland. Clark was also out on bond through Dane County, with an open felony case and an open misdemeanor case. Police cited him for possession of drug paraphernalia and arrested him on felony and misdemeanor bail-jumping charges.
What made the dumpster discovery stand out was the dog who made it. Sam is scheduled to retire on Dec. 31, 2026, but he hasn't started easing into a slower pace. His work in Dodgeville gave him one more strong finish before retirement.
Sheriff Michael Peterson credited Sam, K9 Fenix, the Drone Team, deputies, Dodgeville police officers and dispatchers for the safe conclusion. He described the arrests as an example of what can happen when municipal departments and county resources work together.
Online reactions focused less on Hohmann's flight than on his final hiding place. One commenter wrote, "Hiding in a dumpster?" before wondering what would happen with his bond. Another offered an appropriate nickname for the four-legged officer: "Sam, the Crime Dog!"
Others were stuck on the sheer number of warrants and pending cases. One person asked how someone with that many warrants could still be "running around in public." Another reacted to the two arrests by saying authorities should "throw away the key."
Sam got most of the attention, especially with retirement only a few months away. "Way to go Sam!!!" one person wrote. "Great job Sam! Enjoy your retirement in January!" another added. Whatever Sam does next, he'll leave Iowa County with one more memorable dumpster dive on his record.
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