Man leads deputies on chase

An Appleton man was arrested after leading authorities on a chase in a stolen car through several counties on Christmas.

Washington County sheriff’s deputies used tire deflation devices on southbound I-41, after getting word from the Fond du Lac County Sheriff ’s Department of the pursuit shortly before 1 a.m. Monday. But the 25-year-old Appleton man continued driving at a high rate of speed after hitting the devices.

The motorist drove through the median just south of Highway 144 and headed north until reaching the Highway 144 overpass, where he crossed the median again and traveled north in the southbound lanes, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.

A Washington County sheriff’s supervisor was stopped on the southbound west shoulder of I-41 monitoring the pursuit when the suspect veered and drove straight toward the supervisor’s squad car.

The supervisor managed to leap out as the Appleton man drove his vehicle into the squad car. When the supervisor fired shots at the suspect, the Appleton man stopped the vehicle, was tasered by authorities and arrested.

The Appleton man suffered minor injuries and wasn’t hit by rounds fired by the sheriff’s supervisor. He faces numerous charges in several jurisdictions including stealing a car in Winnebago County. The Washington County sheriff ’s supervisor was placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation.