Manhunt for armed Wisconsin man shifts to protection of churches

(Reuters) - Police hunting a Wisconsin man considered armed and dangerous planned to step up patrols on Sunday at churches near his home, because of anti-religious views in a manifesto he sent to 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 in southern Wisconsin 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 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. Also, the Rock County Sheriff's Office said in a statement late on Saturday that investigators who analyzed Jakubowski's manifesto were concerned about "anti-religious views" in the 161-page document. As a precaution, the sheriff's office and Janesville police said they would increase their patrols at local churches and other places of worship on Sunday. Dozens of law enforcement officers, including Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, were already searching for Jakubowski. 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. Jakubowski, who previously served time in prison for trying to wrestle a gun away from a police officer, is believed to have recently become agitated about politics, authorities said. It was unclear if Jakubowski remains in Wisconsin or if he has left the state. 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)