Search underway for wanted man in Fall Creek

by Bridget Cooke

A man with a number of warrants out for his arrest was recently spotted in Fall Creek Wednesday, June 10 after local police received a call about a school bus violation when a vehicle ran red lights around 11:30 a.m.

Eau Claire Undersheriff Dan Bresina spoke today during a news conference about the man named Billy Lee Croon, who led police officers on a chase over roughly eight miles at some points hitting 90 miles per hour. It was later discovered the vehicle was stolen from Hillcrest Auto in Altoona earlier in the day.

The search is currently underway for Croon, who has been described as a 40-year-old male–born in 1975–with a shaven head, wearing a blue shirt and dark blue jeans. A distinctive X tattoo marks the back of Croon’s head.

“If you see him or someone who fits that description, call 911, do not approach him,” Bresina said. “Folks like this, typically speaking, try to find another vehicle to get away from the location.”

During the pursuit, officers lost track of the vehicle for a short amount of time, but picked up a view again off Randall Road, which is southeast of the Fall Creek school building. Officials believe Croon is still in the area and have a set a perimeter in a pursuit to bring him into custody. This coverage extends southeast of the school on Randall, along Hwy K and both sides of Valley Road.

“We’re actively looking for this gentleman,” Bresina said. “Our perimeter is very substantial; we do not him getting out. Our goal is to take him into custody.”

Probation warrants for Croon out of Minnesota indicate mental health issues as well as violent tendencies, which has given officers cause for caution. However, they do not believe Croon to be armed. A warrant out of St. Croix, Minn. for theft included an alias of Brad Davis, which Bresina said Croon could be using.

An airplane, provided by State Patrol, will be flying over the perimeter area throughout the afternoon in attempts to locate Croon. Officers are treating him as potentially dangerous due to indicators on warrants. Bresina said the office has contacted most residents in the perimeter area and asked them to lock their doors and stay inside.

Fall Creek Administrator Joe Sanfelippo said it has been a busy final week of school, though not in the way they hope for, referencing the earlier week events in which a manhunt had been underway in the area for an armed kidnapping suspect. Mostly, he said the goal of the school is to ensure all-around safety.

“I think true character building shows up when things go wrong,” Sanfelippo said. “Our staff has been amazing in terms of making sure the kids are safe, but also that they remain safe as well.”

Sanfelippo went on to explain the recent situations are different than generally anticipated. However, staff has worked well together with little difficulty to guarantee a positive outcome when dangerous situations occur.

“Not the excitement we’re looking for, but we just want to make sure kids get home safe,” he said.

Search continues for Croon by both Fall Creek and Eau Claire County officers. In the event the search were to continue over several hours, Bresina said there would then be a joint decision made by Fall Creek Police and county officials as to the next plan of action.