FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Two men were pulled from the Fond du Lac river and arrested after a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle.
It all started just before 10:15 p.m. Tuesday when Fond du Lac police officers were put on alert for a reported stolen 2023 Land Rover Defender coming into the area from Menasha.
The vehicle was also allegedly involved in other crimes in that area.
An officer spotted the stolen vehicle on I-41 and S. Military Road and attempted to make a traffic stop. After emergency lights were activated, the vehicle did not stop and sped up, reaching speeds of about 90 mph, heading into the city of Fond du Lac.
The stolen vehicle continued to flee and struck an occupied vehicle at the intersection of Western Avenue and S. Military Road. The occupants of the struck vehicle were not hurt.
The stolen vehicle then stopped in the 100 block of Western Avenue and both suspects got out and ran.
Police deployed a drone and K-9 officer to search for the suspects.
Both suspects were spotted entering the East Branch of the Fond du Lac River in an attempted to get away from law enforcement before being taken into custody.
The driver, a 19-year-old Eau Claire man, was arrested and is being held at the Fond du Lac County Jail on charges of Operate Motor Vehicle Without Owner’s Consent, Eluding an Officer, Resisting an Officer and a Wisconsin Department of Corrections Probation Hold.
The passenger, a 25-year-old Neenah man, is also being held at the Fond du Lac County Jail on charges of Resisting an Officer, Possession of a Schedule 2 Narcotic (Prescription), Possession of an Illegally Obtained Prescription and a Wisconsin Department of Corrections Probation Hold.
One of the suspects was also taken to the hospital due to cold-water exposure from jumping into the river.
