Search continues for armed Wisconsin man who sent Trump a manifesto

[April 10, 2017]  (Reuters) - Police searching for a Wisconsin man considered armed and dangerous stepped up patrols on Sunday at churches near his home because of anti-religious views expressed in a manifesto he sent to U.S. President Donald Trump, officials said.

Joseph A. Jakubowski, 32, is wanted for breaking into a gun shop called Armageddon Supplies in his home town of Janesville, about 70 miles (113 km) southwest of Milwaukee, on Tuesday, when several handguns and rifles were stolen, according to the Rock County Sheriff's Office.

Later that night, his truck was found nearby engulfed in flames, the Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Police believe Jakubowski torched the truck.

Investigators have obtained a 161-page manifesto Jakubowski mailed to Trump. It was filled with barbs directed at officials from all levels of government, Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden said last week.

Investigators who analyzed the manifesto were also concerned about "anti-religious views" in the document, which Jakubowski can be seen mailing to Trump in a video posted to social media.

As a precaution, law enforcement officers increased their patrols at local churches and other places of worship on Sunday but no disturbances were reported, the Rock County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

At least one Wisconsin church shut its doors.

Bethlehem Lutheran in Sun Prairie, less than 50 miles (80 km) north of Janesville, canceled services after a man who was believed to resemble Jakubowski visited the church on Thursday. Investigators have not verified if it was Jakubowski.

A force of 150 law enforcement personnel, including Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, continued their manhunt for Jakubowski on Sunday.

Jakubowski, who served time in prison for trying to wrestle a gun away from a police officer, is believed to have become agitated about politics recently, authorities said.

A person who knows Jakubowski said he had spoken of his plans to steal guns and stage some kind of attack, possibly at a school, Spoden said.

It was unclear if Jakubowski, who according to local media was unemployed, remains in Wisconsin or if he had left the state. Federal agents were pursuing leads in other parts of the country.

The FBI has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

Authorities have warned people not to approach Jakubowski, calling him "armed and dangerous."

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Larry King and Paul Tait)

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