A high-speed car chase occurred on rain-slick streets in Viroqua, on Nov. 16. After the chase ended, a 41-year-old Viroqua man was charged with two felonies by police.
The man, a convicted felon who previously served five years in state prison on other charges, is now facing two felony charges as a repeat offender for first degree reckless endangerment of public safety and attempting to elude a police officer. Both felony charges represent a maximum punishment of 16 years in prison and fines totaling $35,000. He was released on a $1,000 cash bond, and has an initial appearance in court scheduled for the morning of Jan. 27.
According to court records, the man was spotted by a Viroqua police officer speeding near the intersection of South Street and Washington Avenue in a small black automobile. The officer gave chase and reportedly pursued the man for roughly five minutes through approximately four miles of city streets at speeds of about 80 mph. During the chase, the man purportedly ran through four stop signs and nearly crashed. When the chase finally ended at his home on Upper Maple Dale Road, police ordered him out of the vehicle at gunpoint, but he resisted the officer’s commands, according to reports. He was eventually subdued by police and taken into custody without injury. After he was subdued, the man was placed into a patrol car where he allegedly proceeded to threaten officers and bang his head and feet against the inside of the vehicle. Upon investigation, police claimed to have discovered numerous opened and unopened containers of alcohol inside the man’s vehicle.
In addition to the two felonies, he faces two other charges of bail jumping and operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Individuals with prior records who are facing serious charges might benefit from the assistance of a criminal defense attorney during hearings and plea negotiations.
Source: LaCrosse Tribune, “Man faces felony charges in 80-mph chase on Viroqua streets”, Matt Johnson, January 10, 2014
