A high-speed pursuit through three Northeast Wisconsin counties resulted in the arrest of three out-of-state suspects and the seizure of cocaine.
An automated license plate reader told the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday that a vehicle wanted for felony retail theft had entered its jurisdiction while heading north on I-41 from Dodge County.
A Fond du Lac deputy discovered the vehicle on I-41 near Hickory Street in the city of Fond du Lac. The deputy conducted a felony traffic stop after the vehicle left South Military Road and entered a private company parking lot.
Following a brief pause, the car accelerated and escaped, resulting in a high-speed pursuit.
The vehicle drove south on I-41 at high speeds, passing other vehicles on the shoulder. Deputies pursued the vehicle as it reached Dodge County, then Washington County.
A Washington County deputy deployed a tire deflation device near County Highway K on Interstate 41. Although the suspect car drove south for a short distance, the tire deflation device forced the driver to pull over on the shoulder of I-41 at Wisconsin Highway 144 in Washington County.
Deputies from the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and Wisconsin State Patrol troopers performed a high-risk traffic stop and detained all three passengers of the car without incident.
The authorities arrested a 36-year-old woman from Vermont for several charges after she fled from the scene. The charges against her include felony fleeing/eluding, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, possession of THC, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Additionally, she has an outstanding warrant from New Hampshire, which is not enforceable in Wisconsin. The woman is currently being held at the Fond du Lac County Jail.
A 40-year-old man from Pennsylvania, who was the front-seat passenger, has been arrested and taken into custody at the Fond du Lac County Jail. He is facing charges of possessing THC, possessing drug paraphernalia, and resisting/obstructing. It was discovered that this individual had warrants in Vermont, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, but it should be noted that these warrants are not valid in the State of Wisconsin.
Authorities arrested a 41-year-old man from Vermont who was sitting in the back seat. He was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting or obstructing. The suspect was then taken to the Fond du Lac County Jail.
The chase covered a distance of about 33 miles. The vehicle being pursued was affected by the tire deflation device, resulting in some damage. Thankfully, there were no other reported damages or injuries.