December 13, 2019 – Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies in collaboration with our local law enforcement partners with the Hartford and Jackson Police Departments conducted a high visibility criminal interdiction effort on Interstate 41 and USH 45 on Thursday evening, Dec. 12, 2019, which resulted in several arrests for various offenses including dangerous drugs and operating while intoxicated.
These enforcement deployments occur several times a year. Commuters may have noticed an increased law enforcement presence in this area on their evening commutes home.
The primary goal of this effort is to intercept dangerous drugs that are being brought into our community and to take dangerous drivers off the roadway while holding those that choose to engage in these dangerous behaviors accountable for their actions. We understand these efforts can cause a few unwanted delays along the interstate and we are appreciative of the patience shown on the roadway by the general motoring public which allows us to do our job safely.
A 27-year-old Menasha man was arrested after he fled law enforcement during the interdiction. A police officer with the Village of Jackson, working under the authority of the Washington County Sheriff on the interdiction deployment, observed a car at a red light in the Village of Germantown about to get onto the interstate.
The officer observed the driver who appeared to possibly be impaired. She also observed an equipment violation on the vehicle. She attempted to conduct a traffic stop and the car fled at speeds in excess of 100 m.p.h.
Tire deflation devices were successfully deployed at two different locations on the interstate. The vehicle came to a stop on I41 near STH 60 in the Town of Polk after a nearly 7-mile pursuit.
The driver was captured after a short foot pursuit. The driver is currently on parole for 1st-degree intentional homicide and delivery of dangerous drugs. There was an active arrest warrant out for him for reportedly fleeing from Winnebago County authorities. He remains in custody this morning on numerous criminal charges including felony eluding, 2nd-degree reckless endangering safety and possession of drug paraphernalia as well as the outstanding warrant.
Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis said, “This is the exact type of dangerous offender these deployments are intended to capture. Based on the heavy police presence in the area we were able to quickly react and saturate the area with resources. This response allowed for multiple successful deployments of tire deflation devices and a quick and safe conclusion.”