High Speed Pursuit

On July 26, 2018 at approximately 3:44pm a Sauk County Sheriff’s Deputy clocked two vehicles racing in excess of 100 mph on USH 12 near STH 33.  Another Sheriff’s Deputy pulled into the turn around on USH 12 near Old 33 and activated his emergency lights.  The Deputy observed the southbound vehicles still at a high rate of speed pass his location as they were caught in traffic.

The Deputy attempted to stop the vehicles and the Volkswagon Jetta accelerated away at a high rate of speed moving in and out of traffic.  The Deputy began to pursue the vehicle.  The vehicle exited USH 12 onto STH 136 and continued westbound attempting to elude the Deputy.  The Deputy was able to obtain the license plate number and terminated the pursuit.

A short time later another Deputy observed the same vehicle eastbound on CTH W.  No pursuit was initiated at this point.  There were numerous Deputies in the vicinity and a decision was made to attempt to spike the tires of the suspect vehicle.  Deputies set up to spike the tires on CTH W just east of Lovers Lane.  The vehicle turned into a hayfield next to a residence prior to getting to the spike location.  The vehicle then drove through the yard of the residence, and while attempting to exit back onto CTH W, rammed into the drivers side of a squad car with a Deputy inside.  Deputies were able to get the vehicle stopped in the yard of this residence and the driver and passenger were taken into custody.

The driver was identified as Hunter D. Spohn, age 20, of Wisconsin Rapids, WI.  He was incarcerated in the Sauk County Jail with tentative charges of Eluding an Officer, Bail Jumping, Racing on Highway, Operating after Revocation, Possession of THC, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Probation and Parole Hold, and numerous traffic citations.  The passenger, Luke D. Degler, age 20, of Wisconsin Rapids, WI was incarcerated in the Sauk County Jail on a Probation and Parole Hold.

This incident remains under investigation by the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin State Patrol.

Sheriff Chip Meister