Six agencies involved in apprehensions

FOR HUB CITY TIMES

MARSHFIELD — Four suspects from the Lower Peninsula of Michigan led three different Wood County law enforcement agencies on high-speed pursuits through portions of two counties on Sunday, before being apprehended. The police pursuits were initiated after the individuals attempted retail theft at Walmart, which is in the Marathon County portion of Marshfield’s north side.

According to a joint press release from the Marshfield Police Department and Wood County Sheriff’s Office, Marshfield police responded to a report of retail theft at Walmart, 2001 N. Central Ave., at 3:17 p.m. on Sunday, April 30. Officers received information that three individuals fled the business and left in a vehicle. A traffic stop was attempted on the suspect vehicle and a pursuit ensued involving both Marshfield officers and Wood County Deputies. After a short distance, the pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns by Marshfield officers.

The Pittsville Police Department later located the same suspect vehicle and another pursuit ensued. That pursuit was also terminated several minutes in.  

The suspect vehicle was again located by a Wood County Deputy west of Nekoosa on Hwy. 173. Upon observing the vehicle the Wood County Deputy initiated a traffic stop and the driver did not comply. A high-speed chase ensued through the city of Nekoosa, Township of Saratoga and the city of Wisconsin Rapids, where the pursuit was terminated due to the erratic and reckless behavior of the driver. The suspect vehicle was located a short time later in a parking lot in the city of Wisconsin Rapids. At this time it was determined the driver of the vehicle had left the area and entered a local business. After a search of the area, officers from the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department were able to locate the driver of the vehicle in a nearby business. The individual, a 20-year-old woman from Flint, MI, was placed under arrest and transported to the Wood County Jail. 

Later reports indicated individuals associated with the retail theft were located in a wooded area near Babcock in the Township of Remington. Wood County Deputies responded to the area and three subjects were located. They were placed under arrest without incident and turned over to the Marshfield Police Department. The additional suspects were identified as an 18-year-old male, a 17-year-old male and a 16-year-old female, all from Flint, Michigan, which is a northern suburb of Detroit. 

Criminal charges are being referred to the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office, Wood County District Attorney’s Office and Genesee County, Michigan Human Services Department. 

Departments assisting the Marshfield Police Department and the Wood County Sheriff’s Department included police departments in Pittsville, Nekoosa, Grand Rapids and Wisconsin Rapids.