Two Eau Claire men arrested in connection with burglary to Rock Creek home destroyed by fire

By LeAnn R. Ralph

MENOMONIE — Two Eau Claire men have been arrested in connection with a burglary to a house destroyed by fire in which one of the items stolen was a signed Michael Jordan jersey.

According to a news release from the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department dated November 21, Michael A. Tenney, 33, and Ryan J. Weiss, 38, both listed with a Vine Street address in Eau Claire, were identified and arrested on a probation hold.

The burglary occurred in a home in the Town of Rock Creek destroyed by fire October 11.

The fire displaced the family from the residence.

According to a news release from the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department dated November 13, in the early morning hours of November 2, a family member had arrived at the residence and discovered two unknown men with a vehicle behind the residence.

When the family member asked what they were doing, the men said they were “looting the house” and then left the residence with a garbage can full of items.

One of the items stolen from the house, which is believed to have been sold by the suspects, was a signed red No. 45 Michael Jordan basketball jersey, according to the November 13 news release.

“This item is particularly valuable to the family as it was signed for their six-year-old daughter, who is suffering from a life threatening disease,” the news release states.

The Michael Jordan jersey was made available to the family through the “Make a Wish Foundation,” according to the news release.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation, with the help of volunteers and donors, grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

According to the November 21 news release, Tenney and Weiss were being held in the Eau Claire County Jail, and charges for the burglary were forwarded to the Dunn County District Attorney’s office.

The Michael Jordan basketball jersey had not yet been recovered at the time of the November 21 news release.

“We, however, have learned that Michael Jordan was contacted about the stolen jersey and has since made contact with the victim and replaced that jersey,” the news release states.

According to online court records, Tenney pleaded guilty in Eau Claire Circuit Court in May of this year to felony strangulation and suffocation, felony intimidation of a witness and a misdemeanor count of battery and was sentenced to two years of probation on each count. The online court records do not indicate that the probation for each count is consecutive.

Several other charges against Tenney were dismissed but read into the record for sentencing, including false imprisonment, another count of battery, disorderly conduct, theft of movable property valued at less than $2,500, criminal damage to property and bail jumping.

Tenney also currently is facing a charge of forgery in Eau Claire County.

Weiss currently is facing a felony bail jumping charge in Dunn County dating back to 2014 and was convicted of possession of narcotic drugs in Pepin County in a 2015 case. In April of 2016, Weiss was sentenced to one year and six months in state prison and to two years of extended supervision.

Weiss also has been convicted of delivering methamphetamine in Eau Claire County in a 2015 case in which he was sentenced to three years of probation. He was convicted of disorderly conduct in Eau Claire County as well and sentenced to two years of probation.  

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Department is asking that anyone with information about the burglary in the Town of Rock Creek home to contact the sheriff’s office or visit www.dunncocrimestoppers.com to anonymously leave a tip.