Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
The last of three suspects wanted in connection with a high-speed chase on the Menominee Reservation last week that culminated in shots being fired at a police officer was taken into custody Thursday.
Menominee Tribal Police said they have also located the weapon that was used in the incident.
Two suspects were arrested the day after the Oct. 15 incident, including one taken into custody by Shawano police after the state Department of Corrections issued an apprehension request for a probation violation.
The three men are all in their early 20s and from Keshena, Tribal Police Chief Mark Waukau said.
Detective Joshua Lawe said the third man eventually surrendered himself, but that came after a week of searching by Lawe and Detective David Mahkimetas that included contact with family members and others who knew the suspect.
“Word got out and he came forward,” Lawe said.
The incident began about 11:30 p.m. Oct. 15 when Sgt. Basil Okimosh was on patrol and spotted a vehicle traveling through downtown Keshena at a high rate of speed.
Okimosh attempted to pull the vehicle over, but instead “it took off flying,” Waukau said.
A high-speed pursuit ensued along County Road VV until the vehicle reached a dirt road about 3 miles outside of Keshena and turned into the woods.
The chase continued for another couple of miles, winding through back roads in the woods until the vehicle hit a patch of mud and got stuck.
Three men exited the vehicle and fled on foot. One of the suspects fired at Okimosh as he was getting out of his squad.
“Four shots were fired,” Waukau said.
The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit was brought in to assist the search for the suspects, but wet conditions from rain earlier in the day hampered efforts to pick up a scent, Waukau said.
The suspect vehicle was impounded and registration was checked to identify the owner, which led to the identification of persons of interest in the case and two arrests Friday afternoon.
Waukau credited inter-agency cooperation and the work of detectives with resolving the case.
“They worked really hard on this case,” he said. “They worked diligently to get a resolution to this as soon as possible.”
Waukau said Shawano police and the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department, which provided the K-9 unit in the initial search, and probation and parole officers who requested the apprehension of one of the suspects on the parole violation were very helpful.
“This was a multi-jurisdictional thing that came together,” he said.
“We have a good working relationship,” Waukau said. “We communicate very well so we can keep people safe in our communities.”
Charges have not yet been filed, but will be filed in both federal and tribal court, Waukau said.
Lawe said discussion of the possible charges are being discussed with federal prosecutors, but are likely to include assault to a police officer and obstruction.