False rumor circulates about refugees

The sheriff’s office was made aware of a rumor that there was a carjacking on Hwy. 21 near Ft. McCoy involving some of the refugees.

It’s completely a rumor. There’s no truth to it whatsoever.”

Lt. Jeffrey Spencer

The Monroe County Sheriff’s office is trying to put to rest a rumor circulating around the Tomah area involving Afghan refugees housed at Ft. McCoy.

According to Lt. Jeffrey Spencer, the sheriff’s office was made aware of a rumor that there was a carjacking on Hwy. 21 near Ft. McCoy involving some of the refugees.

“It’s completely a rumor,” said Spencer. “There’s no truth to it whatsoever.”

The department implored the public to “please stop this rumor” on its Facebook page.

This follows an incident last week when Monroe County Sheriff Wes Revels said there were a number calls concerning two refugees walking toward Tomah at around noon on Aug. 25. He said it was determined one was a U.S. citizen and the other was a properly vetted refugee who had been released from the installation. 

A press release from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said the department keeps monitoring the evolving situation at Ft. McCoy related to the refugees.

Revels said he is “committed to our on-going goal of using our resources to keep the citizens of Monroe County as safe and secure as we can.” 

He added that there have been no reports to his office of any criminal activity related to the situation. 

The department’s law enforcement and the emergency management divisions have been attending briefings and are collaborating with federal, state and non-governmental partners in an effort to ensure the mission is accomplished in a safe and efficient manner for all involved, according to the sheriff’s office.

The press release said that the sheriff’s office is unable to provide specific information from the  briefings but added it gained insight into the processes in place to complete the re-settlement of the evacuees.  

“Many of the evacuees, or guests, were at risk in their homeland due to their support for the United States over the past nearly 20 years and are on a pathway to US citizenship,” it goes on to say. “The guests are legally present in the United States and are free to move about the country as they continue to complete the process to become a permanent resident. 

“We will continue to impress upon our federal partners the importance of providing updated information to the citizens of Monroe County and the surrounding area.”

Refugees began arriving at Ft. McCoy Aug. 22. Up to 10,000 may be housed at the facility, which is one of three Army bases chosen to help process the Afghans who have fled from their county after its overthrow by Taliban forces.