Russell arson suspects identified

The suspects connected to what authorities say was arson in May have been identified.

Noah P. Schmitz, 29, and Skylar R. Basina, 32, both of Bayfield, are accused of setting ablaze a bear camp located at 33905 on Highway 13 in Russell on May 12. The pair 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 to a building as a party to a crime, and one count of criminal damage to property as a party to a crime.

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

The unidentified property owner possessed six bear dogs on the property. According to the criminal complaint, Schmitz told investigators May 12 was a “day of drinking” and Basina becomes hateful when he drinks. Schmitz and Basina agreed they would set the bear camp on fire because “some people believe the bear dogs are being used as tools and mistreated,” Schmitz told law enforcement.

Authorities said Schmitz and Basina set ablaze a cabin, a metal storage building and a shed. The two reportedly had talked about burning down the camp before, but never followed through with it.

While watching video recorded at the scene, law enforcement spotted an SUV with rust on the 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 tried to stop the driver for speeding and expired registration.

The deputy turned on his emergency lights and sirens, but the vehicle didn’t stop immediately. It eventually came to rest on Hillside Road. Schmitz and Basina then got out.

The deputy ordered them to stay in the vehicle several times. Basina complied, but Schmitz reportedly didn’t and continued to walk away. After several attempts, Schmitz responded “f*** you, I’m going to my house,” according to the complaint. While attempting to arrest him, Schmitz continued to resist. While interacting with Schmitz, the deputy reportedly noticed an odor of intoxicants and a box of alcohol was located in the back seat of the vehicle.

Schmitz told law enforcement the arson was not planned. He said Basina used a pocket lighter to start the fire. The two made multiple trips back to the camp after starting the fire because “Basina had to keep seeing how it was burning and after that had to let the dogs go,” the complaint stated.

Schmitz is scheduled for an arraignment on Monday.

According to CCAP, Schmitz was previously convicted of charges for 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 threat to law enforcement in 2019.