A 41-year-old Milwaukee man wanted on a Kenosha County felony warrant was arrested Saturday morning after a roughly 4.5-mile chase through Fond du Lac County that ended in a crash at the Winnebago Street off-ramp and a short foot pursuit, authorities said. Troopers and deputies used an electronic control device to stop him after he bolted from the wrecked vehicle, and he was treated for minor injuries before being booked. The chase drew a multi-agency response that included Wisconsin State Patrol units and Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
How the pursuit unfolded
The incident started when a Wisconsin State Patrol trooper pulled over a vehicle on I-41 northbound near USH 151 and called for emergency backup after learning the driver had a felony warrant out of Kenosha County, according to TMJ4. Responding units briefly lost sight of the car until a Fond du Lac County deputy spotted it barreling along S. Military Road and attempted a high-risk contact.
The driver threw the car in reverse, then shot north on Military Road, cutting through a business parking lot before continuing on S. Pioneer Road and W. Johnson Street and looping back onto I-41. The getaway ended at the Winnebago Street off-ramp, where the vehicle lost control, went airborne over the roadway and crashed. The suspect ran, but officers caught up after a short foot chase and used an electronic control device to take him into custody, according to authorities.
Context: a county wrestling with chases
The pursuit is the latest in a run of multi-mile chases in Fond du Lac County that have kept attention focused on safety along the I-41 corridor. Earlier incidents, including a February chase that stretched across several counties, have highlighted frequent use of tactics such as spike strips and PIT maneuvers.
Charges, injuries and booking
The man is facing possible counts of fleeing and eluding, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, felony bail jumping and resisting or obstructing an officer. The State Patrol also expects to refer charges of felon in possession of a firearm and marijuana possession, TMJ4 reports. After the crash and foot pursuit, he was taken to be treated for minor injuries and then booked into the Fond du Lac County Jail. Authorities said the chase spanned about 4.5 miles.
What officials say and pursuit policy
Fond du Lac-area agencies say officers weigh each pursuit on a case-by-case basis, trying to balance the risk to the public against the need to apprehend suspects. The Fond du Lac Police Department’s vehicle pursuits policy spells out the factors officers must consider, including speed, traffic volume, location and the seriousness of the suspected crime, as detailed in the department’s policy manual, Fond du Lac Police Department.
The suspect remains in custody while the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin State Patrol continue their investigation. Anyone with relevant footage or information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office; contact details are available on the agency’s website, Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office.
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