SUN PRAIRIE — The search for a vehicle reported stolen in Milwaukee led law enforcement all the way to a Madison-area school, where a suspect armed with a loaded handgun allegedly tried but failed to gain entry to the school's building.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation explained in a statement Monday that troopers stopped a vehicle for speeding on I-94 in Jefferson County Monday morning. After pulling up to the vehicle, troopers learned that the vehicle was reported stolen by the City of Milwaukee Police Department, and that the driver was wanted for robbery by the Department of Corrections.
When the troopers demanded the driver exit the vehicle, the suspect instead chose to drive off, according to WisDOT. That decision led to a high-speed chase at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour.
The high-speed pursuit was called off near CTH North and CTH T in Dane County. A trooper soon found the wanted vehicle was parked and abandoned in the employee parking lot of the Sun Prairie High School, in Madison's suburbs.
Aided by Sun Prairie police, troopers then found the suspect on school grounds, and arrested the suspect after a short pursuit on foot. A loaded handgun was found on the suspect, according to WisDOT. The department adds troopers later learned the suspect attempted to gain entry into the school, but was unsuccessful
A small number of students were in the school during the incident, WisDOT says.
The unidentified suspect is being taken to the Jefferson County Jail on charges of operating a motor vehicle without owners consent, felon possession of a firearm, and operator flee/elude officer.
