June 10, 2024 – Fond du Lac Co., WI – On Sunday, June 9, 2024, at approximately 12:53 a.m., a Deputy with the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a vehicle for a speed violation, 116mph in a 55mph zone, Westbound on US-Highway 23 at Whispering Springs Drive in the Town of Empire, County of Fond du Lac, State of Wisconsin.
The Deputy activated his emergency lights and siren in a fully marked, Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office Squad and the vehicle did not yield to the Deputy’s attempts to stop it.
The vehicle continued westbound through the roundabout at US Highway 23 and Wisconsin American Drive. The vehicle then entered the eastbound lanes of travel while continuing westbound on US Highway 23 near Highway 151.
The vehicle continued in the wrong lane of traffic, when the driver attempted to make a left turn on Prairie Road. The vehicle was unsuccessful due to the excessive speed and struck a curb.
The vehicle entered the south terrace on Johnson Street, entering an adjacent parking lot, continuing to drive at a high rate of speed. During this time, a Fond du Lac Police Department Officer was investigating a separate, unrelated incident in that same parking lot. The Police Officer was outside of their vehicle and observed the vehicle operating at a high speed in close proximately to them.
The vehicle became disabled as the result of striking the curb. At the time the vehicle stopped, the driver exited the vehicle and began to flee on foot. A perimeter was established to contain the suspect. A Deputy of the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office was on foot and checking the area. The Deputy encountered the suspect. A brief foot chase ensued but the driver eventually complied with the Deputy’s commands. The driver was taken into custody, without furtherincident. The driver was located approximately 200 yards away from the vehicle. Evidence recovered at the scene, in addition to the observations of the Officer, confirmed this was the driver of the vehicle.
The driver was identified as a 44-year-old male from Saint Petersburg, Florida. The suspect is being held at the Fond du Lac County Jail for Vehicle Operator Flee and Elude Officers, 2nd Degree Recklessly Endanger Safety, Operate While Intoxicated, Possession of Psilocin/Psilocybin and Resisting and Obstructing an Officer. He was also cited for several traffic violations.
The pursuit lasted 2.1 miles. The suspect vehicle sustained minor damage to the front passenger tire while the driver was attempting to evade Law Enforcement. No civilians, suspects, or Law Enforcement Officers were injured as a result of this pursuit.
The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by The City of Fond du Lac Police Department and Wisconsin State Patrol with this incident.