January 6, 2024 – Washington County, WI – On Thursday, January 4, 2024, Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies were conducting a follow-up investigation with our colleagues from Wisconsin State Patrol regarding the whereabouts of a 43-year-old Rockford, Illinois male who is a wanted fugitive (two extraditable arrest warrants from Illinois).
The fugitive was also identified as the alleged operator of a vehicle involved in a high-speed pursuit with Wisconsin State Patrol and Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies on January 2, 2024.
At approximately 10:53 a.m. on Thursday, January 4, 2024, the fugitive suspect was spotted by law enforcement officers arriving at a Town of Addison business. The suspect immediately began to flee law enforcement in his vehicle and a pursuit was initiated on Hwy W southbound, north of Crooked Road in the Town of Addison.
During the pursuit, the suspect was able to avoid multiple attempts by law enforcement officers to deploy tire deflation devices. Ultimately, the suspect struck tire deflation devices deployed by members of the Hartford Police Department on Kettle Moraine Rd. near Gateway Ave, which partially disabled the suspect’s vehicle.
The suspect continued to flee from officers and would intentionally drive westbound against traffic in the eastbound lanes of Hwy 60/Franklin Dr. in the City of Hartford.
Due to the extreme danger to the public by operating as a wrong-way driver, the suspect’s vehicle was intentionally struck by a Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputy to stop the threat posed by the dangerous driving behavior.
The suspect’s vehicle became disabled, and he continued to flee on foot. With the assistance of Hartford Police Department K9 Flash, the suspect was successfully taken into custody.
The fugitive suspect is in custody at Washington County Jail and the matter is currently being reviewed by the Washington County District Attorney’s Office with criminal charges expected to be filed shortly.
There were no injuries to civilians as a result of this incident.
According to the directive of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicity, a charge is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
