Eluding / Stolen Vehicle / Crash (16-25344)
Authority: Lt. Robert Stuesser
On Wednesday July 13, 2016 at approximately 11:29 a.m. the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office provided Washington County Sheriff’s Dispatch with information of a vehicle driving recklessly southbound on I41 from their county.
At approximately 11:38 a.m. a Washington County Sheriff’s Detective observed the suspect vehicle southbound on I41 just south of CTH K in the town of Polk, and attempted to initiate a traffic stop.
The vehicle was only occupied by a female driver. The suspect vehicle failed to yield and exited at STH 144 at a high rate of speed. The vehicle traveled southbound on STH 144 into the Village of Slinger, where a Slinger Police Officer assisted in the pursuit. The suspect vehicle was being operated in a reckless manner while in the Village of Slinger, resulting in the pursuit being terminated at approximately 11:40 a.m.
After terminating the pursuit, Deputies learned the suspect vehicle had been reported stolen from a city of Appleton fitness center earlier in the day by an unknown female subject.
Deputies remained in the area and observed the suspect vehicle at several other locations south of STH 60 in the Town of Polk. Deputies observed the vehicle being operated in a reckless manner and did not re-initiate the pursuit. At approximately 11:58 a.m. a deputy came upon a single vehicle accident located at STH 60 and Slinger Road in the Village of Slinger.
The deputy observed that the suspect vehicle had crashed into a We Energies utility pole on the southeast corner of the intersection, with the female driver attempting to flee the scene on foot. The driver was immediately taken into custody by the deputy without incident.
The driver refused to identify herself. She was arrested for Eluding an Officer and transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in the Town of Polk for an impairment assessment and treatment for minor injuries. The Wisconsin State Patrol was requested to conduct the crash investigation.
As of this writing, Slinger Rd. south of STH 60 remains closed to facilitate utility pole repair. Deputies, with the assistance of the Appleton Police Department, believe they have identified the driver; however, this information is still not verified. Criminal charges of OWI, operating a motor vehicle without owner’s consent and eluding an officer will be forwarded to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office. The incident remains under investigation and no further information will be released at this time.