Sherriff’s Office releases name of body found in river

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of Fredi Ruiz, 26, of Sparta, who was found in the La Crosse River on Friday May 27. Shortly after 12:30pm on Friday, the Monroe County 911 Communication Center received a phone call from a canoer about a possible body that was located in the La Crosse River near the Hammer Rd. crossing.

Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to the scene and coordinated efforts to have the body removed by the Sparta Area Fire District.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by the Monroe County 911 Communications Center, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Sparta Area Fire District, and the Monroe County Medical Examiner."

The Herald went to the scene, on Friday and talked with fire chief Mike Arnold. He said, "we've been out searching the river, to see if the deceased male had a watercraft of any kind." Arnold said that the Fire Department searched mostly downstream from the Hammer Rd. bridge. However, they did search about a 1/4 mile upstream from the bridge.

The Sparta Area Fire District called the search off at about 4p.m. The Sparta Area Fire District did not find any sort of watercraft.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office or Monroe County Crime Stoppers. Further information regarding the investigation will be released when it becomes available.