Russell arson suspects identified |

Suspects linked to what authorities believe was an arson in May have been identified.

Noah P. Schmitz, 29, and Skylar R. Basina, 32, both of Bayfield, are accused of burning down a bear camp located at 33905 Highway 13 in Russell on May 12. Both men face a total of 10 charges.

Schmitz is charged with one count of resisting an officer and failure to stop, one count of resisting and obstructing an officer, three counts of arson of a building as a party to a felony and one count of criminal damage to property as a party to a felony. a crime.

Basina is charged with three counts of arson of a building as a party to a felony and one count of criminal damage to property as a party to a felony.

The unidentified owner had six bear dogs on the property. According to the criminal complaint, Schmitz told investigators that May 12 was a “drinking day” and Basina became hateful when he drank. Schmitz and Basina agreed to set fire to the bear camp because “some people believe bear dogs are being used as tools and abused,” Schmitz told law enforcement.

Authorities said Schmitz and Basina set fire to a cabin, a metal storage building and a shed. The two men reportedly already talked about burning down the camp, but never followed through.

While viewing video recorded at the scene, law enforcement spotted an SUV with rust on the rear quarter panel above the wheel. The SUV was located the day after the incident by law enforcement on New Housing Road in Russell. A Bayfield County sheriff's deputy followed the vehicle and eventually attempted to stop the driver for speeding and expired registration.

The deputy turned on his lights and sirens, but the vehicle did not stop immediately. He eventually came to a stop on Hillside Road. Schmitz and Basina then came out.

The deputy repeatedly ordered them to stay in the vehicle. Basina obeyed, but Schmitz allegedly did not and continued to walk away. After several attempts, Schmitz responded, “Fuck you, I’m going home,” according to the complaint. While attempting to stop him, Schmitz continued to resist. During an interaction with Schmitz, the deputy allegedly noticed an odor of intoxicants and a can of alcohol was in the back seat of the vehicle.

Schmitz told law enforcement that the arson was not planned. He said Basina used a pocket lighter to start the fire. The two men returned to the camp several times after starting the fire because “Basina had to continue to monitor how it was burning and then let the dogs go,” the complaint states.

Schmitz is scheduled to be arraigned Monday.

According to CCAP, Schmitz was previously convicted of possession of THC in 2022, violation of a foreign protection order in 2021, and resisting and obstructing the same year. Basina was convicted of battery and threats against law enforcement in 2019.