Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
A Shawano man who fled in handcuffs from a Wisconsin State Patrol squad during his arrest Monday in Bonduel has been charged with felony counts of escape and giving a false name to authorities.
Aaron T. Behling, 25, was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over for speeding by a state trooper on County Road BE just after 6 p.m.
Behling, who had a Wisconsin Department of Corrections warrant for his arrest, initially gave the trooper a false name, according to the criminal complaint.
After his true identity was determined, he was handcuffed and placed in the squad, where the complaint states he was seat-belted in.
A Shawano County sheriff’s deputy arrived to assist the trooper in questioning the driver and another passenger in the vehicle. The deputy then noticed that Behling was no longer in the trooper’s squad, according to the complaint.
A review of video taken from the deputy’s squad showed Behling fleeing into a cornfield south of the highway.
The complaint does not state how Behling escaped.
Bonduel police and other units were called in, and a perimeter was set up around the area, while GPS was used to locate the cell phone Behling had on him.
A short time later, Behling was spotted on a farm property on Greenwood Road.
According to the complaint, Behling knocked on the door of a home on the property and told the homeowner his vehicle had broken down and he needed a ride.
However, the homeowner was suspicious because Behling was handcuffed, according to the complaint. Behling explained it was because his girlfriend was into “kinky stuff.”
Behling was taken into custody a few moments later.
Behling could face six years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted on each of the felony counts of identity theft and escape.
He is also charged with misdemeanor counts of bail jumping, obstructing an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was freed on a $750 cash bond after a hearing before Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court Judge William Kussel Jr. on Tuesday.
He is due back in court for a preliminary hearing Monday.