BELGIUM — A spree of stolen vehicles in Sheboygan County led to a massive police presence and manhunt for suspects in the area of Belgium in Ozaukee County late Monday night. After over two hours, and the closure of part of I-43, law enforcement were able to spike the tires of the vehicle suspects were in and make two arrests, according the updates from two sheriff's offices.
The Sheboygan and Ozaukee County Sheriff's Offices released updates on the incident shortly after 10 p.m. Monday.
According to the release from Sheboygan County Sheriff's Office, around 6 p.m. Monday police responded to a report of shots fired in the area of Union Avenue and South 15th Street.
The Office believes that incident was connected to a report of a stolen vehicle in Manitowoc. Suspects in that theft then attempted to steal another vehicle, but the driver of that vehicle was able to successfully drive away. The suspects fired rounds, striking the vehicle, according to the Office, but no one was injured.
BREAKING NOW: several law enforcement scenes in Sheboygan/Ozaukee Counties along I-43 South. Highway is closed at County Road D. @tmj4 pic.twitter.com/TBvmX0us2x
— Tom Durian (@TMJ4Tom) November 10, 2020
Shortly after that incident, suspects approached a woman, pointed a gun at her and stole her vehicle in the 1300 block on North 15th Street in Sheboygan. Both that vehicle and the initial vehicle reported stolen then drove off. The stolen vehicles were later located by the Sheriff's Office on I-43.
Spikes deployed along the road just south of Belgium stopped the vehicle that was stolen in Manitowoc. Two suspects ditched the vehicle and tried to make a run for it, but they were later located and arrested following a search by law enforcement. Those two suspects are identified as being 16 and 17 years old, both male.
The vehicle stolen in Sheboygan has not been located. It is described as a 2015 Ford Edge, Sport Utility vehicle. It is red has Wisconsin registration plates 444DSW, according to the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Office.
The Office says they have a list of potential suspects and that the investigation is ongoing.
A stretch of I-43 south of Belgium was closed for several hours during the incident, leading to traffic jams. The lanes have since reopened.
In a separate release, the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office says its deputies used spikes to shred the tires of the first vehicle, on southbound I-43 near Sandy Beach Road in the Town of Belgium, around 6:25 p.m. Residents in the area were asked to stay inside their homes during the manhunt.
Some residents in Ozaukee County received an emergency alert on their phones, encouraging them to shelter in place as a large police presence searches for "fleeing subjects."
Around 8 p.m., the two suspects were taken into custody, concluding the initial manhunt, according to the Ozaukee County Sheriff. The suspects were turned over to the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office, who will be handling potential charges against them.
Over a dozen police, fire and sheriff's offices assisted in the manhunt.
Anyone with information about the disturbance is encouraged to call Sheboygan Police at 920-459-3333, or they may provide information anonymously through Sheboygan Countywide Crime Stoppers at 877-CUF-THEM (877-283-8436) or online at cufthem.com.
