Thursday, July 3, 2008 --- 10:15 a.m.

According to a news release from the Dane County Sheriff's Department:

At approximately 5 a.m. Thursday, Dane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a Burglary in progress at JJ’s Top of the Swamp tavern located at 5344 STH 113 in the town of Westport.

A cleaning crew arriving at the location interrupted two men breaking into a storage building outside the tavern. The suspects fled the scene in a van, however the cleaning crew was able to give a detailed description of the suspects and their vehicle. Approximately 20 minutes later, with the assistance of Madison Police, the vehicle was located and stopped on Pennsylvania Avenue in Madison.

Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Joseph M. Larue, age 42 of Madison, for Burglary, Criminal Damage to Property, and Carrying a Concealed Weapon. Forty-five year-old Mark A. Hall of Madison was arrested for Criminal Damage to Property, and Party to a Crime of Burglary. Hall was also cited for Operating After Revocation. Both men are being held in the Dane County Jail.

A search of the van revealed large quantities of aluminum, including bags of cans and aluminum window and door frames, which appear to be from a commercial-type building. Deputies will continue to investigate the suspects’ connections to other burglaries in the area. Anyone with information relating to these crimes is asked to call the Dane County Tip Line at 284-6900.