An alleged drug deal inside a Marion County couple’s home led to the arrest of a 46-year-old man after he allegedly robbed the couple at gunpoint and stole hundreds of dollars from them.
On Saturday, May 17, Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home in Fort McCoy in reference to a robbery incident. A male and female victim advised that they had been robbed, and the suspect had fled from the residence in a dark-colored SUV, according to the arrest report.
An SUV was soon located that matched the description provided by the victims. A traffic stop was conducted, and deputies made contact with the driver of the vehicle, identified in the report as David Thomas Werner. However, the victims had provided a different name to law enforcement when attempting to identify the robbery suspect, and this “discrepancy in name” resulted in Werner being released from the traffic stop.
The report stated that the same SUV was observed by deputies at a local residence, which was associated with the individual who had been initially identified by the victims. Werner and an adult female passenger were detained by deputies shortly after exiting the vehicle.
According to statements provided by the victims, a suspect – later identified as Werner – had entered their home through the unlocked front door. Werner then allegedly entered their bedroom, closed the door behind him, and pointed a revolver at the male victim while demanding that the victims give him “all the money (they) have.”
The female victim advised that Werner pointed the gun at her when she retrieved a cellphone from the nearby nightstand. Moments later, the male victim “charged” at Werner and attempted to disarm him. A brief physical altercation ensued, and Werner allegedly struck the male victim’s head and face multiple times with the firearm, according to the report.
Werner then allegedly grabbed approximately $600 in cash from the bedroom before fleeing from the residence. The victims stated that they saw Werner drive away in an SUV, and they contacted law enforcement.
An MCSO corporal noted in the report that the male victim had lacerations on the side of his face and on his forehead. These injuries appeared to be consistent with the victim being struck with the butt and barrel of a firearm.
While speaking with law enforcement, Werner allegedly admitted that he knew the male victim and had been at the incident location earlier in the day. According to Werner, the victim had used counterfeit $50 bills to purchase drugs from him approximately a week earlier, and Werner “ate the cost of the mistake,” according to the report.
Werner allegedly further stated that he returned to the victim’s home around the time of the incident because the victim claimed to have quality “ice” (crystal methamphetamine) to sell. However, Werner advised that the “ice” was “fake,” and he alleged that the victim attempted to rob him at gunpoint.
During the interview with law enforcement, Werner stated that he charged at the male victim and struck him multiple times in self-defense before fleeing from the home.
The report mentioned that the male victim admitted to unintentionally giving Werner counterfeit $50 bills for the purchase of marijuana a week earlier, though the victim claimed that he “made it right” by paying with “legitimate currency” when the issue was brought to his attention.
MCSO investigators ultimately determined that Werner had robbed the victims at gunpoint during a drug deal inside their home. Werner was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond.
Jail records show that Werner is being charged with burglary with assault or battery, robbery with a firearm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. He is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 17.