Minnesota men face charges after high-speed pursuit in Washburn County

By Shelley Nelson

snelson@superiortelegram.com

Two Minnesota men were arrested after a high speed chase through Washburn County.

The Washburn County Sheriff’s Department received a call shortly before 1 p.m. Monday from Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission conservation warden who reported he was driving behind a vehicle reported stolen in Barron County, Wis., that was involved in a robbery and theft. The warden advised that he was a near the intersection of Zimmerman Road on U.S. Highway 53.

According to a news release issued by the Washburn County Sheriff’s Department:

Washburn County Deputy Don Esser waited for the vehicle and turned on his lights and siren when he observed the vehicles in an effort to get the driver of the stolen vehicle, occupied by two men, to pull over.

The driver fled at speeds in excess of 100 mph travelling northbound through Trego. The passenger stuck his head and shoulders out the window and threw debris onto the highway in an attempt to elude law enforcement officers.

A Wisconsin State Patrol trooper blew a tire because of the debris, but managed to stop the squad without accident or injury. Another Washburn County deputy deployed stop sticks, but the suspects were able to elude them and continue northbound on Highway 53 at a high rate of speed.

Esser contacted the Minong Police Department and Chief Dennis Stuart successfully deployed stop sticks, damaging the right front and rear tires on the vehicle, but the suspects continued to flee north of Minong. Around Shell Creek Road, the tires on the suspect vehicle were coming apart and there was a lot of smoke. Shortly after that, the suspect vehicle’s right rear tire came off the rim and the vehicle slowed.

The sheriff’s department had contacted the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department for assistance to deploy stop sticks.

As the suspects drove into Douglas County, the driver pulled over and they were taken into custody without further incident.

The sheriff’s department arrested Cody Michael Roberts, 22, of St. Paul, and the driver, Daniel Wayne Willette, 26, of Askov. The two were taken to the Washburn County Jail pending transport to Barron County. They will also face charges in Washburn County, Sheriff Terry Dryden said.

The subjects were arrested for theft, knowingly fleeing an officer, reckless endangerment and criminal damage to property

Dryden credited effective communications among the agencies involved for ending the dangerous pursuit.

Agencies involved also included the Spooner Police Department and the Washburn County Dispatchers who coordinated efforts of the agencies involved. Additional or amended charges will be decided by the district attorneys in Washburn and Barron counties.

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