At-Large Sex Offender Arrested 150 Miles Away: Report

WHITEFISH BAY, WI — After more than a week, authorities in Whitefish Bay say they've arrested a registered sex offender who is accused of approaching children in Klode Park and later evading police at a nearby beach.

According to information released by police on July 24, Raymond Hoelzer, 56, of Milwaukee was reportedly in violation of village Sex Offender ordinances, which prevent registered sex offenders may not be near parks and schools.

Authorities say Hoelzer was taken into custody Tuesday, Aug. 6 afternoon by the Marathon County Sheriff's Department at a residence in the Village of Elderon, about 150 miles away. He is currently being held in the Marathon County Jail. Whitefish Bay Police say they received an anonymous tip on Aug. 5 that Hoelzer was staying with a person in Elderon. Police say that information was passed along to the Marathon County Sheriff's Department who followed up on the tip.

Police Say He Approached Children

Police said Hoelzer approached two children on a sidewalk near Klode park on July 24, asking them to look at a supposed Disney character image on his phone on Wednesday. One of the children felt uncomfortable, and dialed 911 on her cell phone right before he walked away towards Klode Park.

Police say a Whitefish Bay police officer, unaware of what just happened, later saw Hoelzer standing in the men's restroom at Klode Park. According to police, Hoelzer left Klode park once he saw the officer, and then left a nearby beach when he saw the officer a second time.

When the officer caught up with him, police say Hoelzer simply told the officer he was off from work enjoying the good weather, before leaving the area.

A short time later officers saw Hoelzer walk back and forth in front of Richards School. One of the officers did some investigating and discovered that he was is a registered sex offender with the State of Wisconsin.

Police asked the public to be on the lookout for Hoelzer shortly after the incident occurred. A warrant for his arrest was issued on Aug. 1 on a charge of failing to comply with the conditions of being on the State's Sex Offender Registry. vThat charge carries a maximum time behind bars of three years in addition to any other incarceration time or fines he may incur.

"Between July 24 and today we have been interviewing people who are known to Raymond Hoelzer," Whitefish Bay Police said in a statement Thursday. "Through these interviews we were able to gain proof that he was not abiding by the requirements of the State of Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry."

Hoelzer was convicted of first-degree sexual assault of a child in 1995.