August 10, 2021 – Washington Co., WI
Several area law enforcement agencies were involved in the arrest of a 32-year-old Milwaukee man after he allegedly stole a vehicle from a business parking lot in the Village of Jackson today. The incident began this morning at 7:55 a.m. after a vehicle owner called 911 reporting his vehicle was just stolen, by an unknown suspect, from a parking lot near Glen Brooke Dr. and Main St. in the Village of Jackson.
Jackson Police promptly arrived on scene and relayed a description of the stolen vehicle to other county law enforcement agencies. Within minutes, a Washington County Sheriff’s deputy located the vehicle traveling southbound on I41 near Holy Hill Rd. The deputy attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle, and a pursuit began south of Lannon Rd. A Wisconsin State Patrol unit and a Germantown Police officer also assisted as the pursuit started.
The driver then exited I41 at County Line Rd. at an excessive speed. The stolen vehicle then struck a pickup truck at the stoplight, and then an eastbound van that subsequently rolled over. The suspect driver then continued to flee in the vehicle before it became disabled due to damage on the I41 southbound on-ramp. The suspect then fled on foot where Germantown Police officers took him into custody after a brief foot chase.
The suspect was taken to the Washington County Jail where he is currently being held on sheriff’s office charges of felony fleeing and eluding, reckless endangering safety, and operation of a motor vehicle without owner’s consent. Jackson Police will also likely have additional charges and the Germantown Police are investigating the accidents which could also result in additional charges. The van driver suffered minor injuries as a result of the collision and no one else was hurt.
Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis said of the incident, “I am extremely thankful this criminal’s behavior resulted in only one minor injury to an innocent citizen; it could have been exponentially worse. Pursuits are inherently dangerous for suspects, law enforcement, and as demonstrated in this case, especially for unsuspecting innocent citizens that cross into the path.” Schulteis further said, “Philosophically is a careful balance for law enforcement. We owe the public we serve to be as cautious as possible during these dangerous encounters, but we also are aware that the community expects that criminal behavior is held accountable.”
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our appreciation to our law enforcement partners from the Jackson Police Department, Germantown Police Department Wisconsin, Menomonee Falls Police Department, and the Wisconsin State Patrol for assistance in bringing this criminal to justice.