What started as a simple traffic stop over sketchy plates in rural Fond du Lac County on Sunday turned into a 23-minute, 24-mile high-speed chase that only ended when the car slid into a ditch by a pole shed. By the time the dust settled, five people were in custody and deputies had pulled a loaded handgun out of the mix.
According to deputies, the vehicle was first pulled over on Rolling Meadows Drive just south of Winnebago Street in the Town of Lamartine. As officers walked up to the car, the driver hit the gas and took off, kicking off a pursuit that cut across back roads before ending near a farm building on Forest Avenue Road. Despite the chaos, authorities say everyone in the car was taken into custody without incident.
Traffic Stop over “No Vehicle Associated” Plates Sparks Pursuit
According to FOX6 News Milwaukee, deputies ran the car’s plates and got a return of “no vehicle associated,” which triggered the initial stop. FOX6 reports that once the driver bolted, the car headed south, then west on Highway 23, where the driver pulled multiple U-turns to dodge spike strips and, at times, drove head-on toward pursuing squad cars.
Chase Ends in a Ditch, Deputies Follow Footprints to Gun
As WBAY reports, the fleeing car tried to lie low near a farmstead on Forest Avenue Road before sliding into a ditch and coming to rest by a shed. Deputies searching the vehicle found suspected marijuana and alcohol. WBAY notes that officers then followed fresh footprints to a black bag tucked beneath a building, where they say they discovered a loaded handgun. The Wisconsin State Patrol assisted in the response.
Felony Counts for Driver, Citations for Underage Passengers
FOX6 News Milwaukee identified the driver as a 20-year-old man from Black Creek. According to FOX6, he faces several felony charges, including recklessly endangering safety, felony fleeing and eluding, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The four passengers, all under 21, were cited for underage possession of alcohol, and some of them also received citations for possession of drug paraphernalia, FOX6 reports.
Not the First Hair-Raising Pursuit in Fond Du Lac County
Authorities in Fond du Lac County have been dealing with a run of dangerous pursuits that keep turning up drugs and guns. In one March case, WTAQ documented how deputies recovered meth and multiple firearms, including AK-47-style weapons, after another high-speed chase that ended in arrests.
Investigation Still Active, No Injuries Reported
Despite the risky driving, no injuries to deputies or other motorists were reported in Sunday’s pursuit, and officials say the investigation is still underway. The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office shared initial details with local media but has not yet released further information about the case.
