Caledonia Argus

Traffic stop turns into manhunt

Posted: 11/19/02

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

A routine traffic stop turned into a manhunt on November 17 after an individual fled on foot into a wooded area off CSAH 9 near Houston. Houston County authorities attempted to pull over a vehicle travelling 67 m.p.h. in a 55 m.p.h. zone, but the driver pulled into a driveway on Dybing Road in Houston, exited the vehicle, and ran into the woods. The driver could not be located after a preliminary search, but authorities ran a check on the license plates and subsequently named a suspect in the case. An arrest is yet to be made; the case is still under investigation.

Suspects sought in separate hit and run incidents

The Caledonia Police Department received a report of a hit and run accident at The Country Store in Caledonia. A vehicle is believed to have struck the north side of the building in the early morning hours of November 16; the building sustained damage. A small piece of plastic was found near the scene, but it is yet to be determined if the plastic is a piece of the vehicle. A clerk at The Country Store described the vehicle as an ìolder, bigger, dark-colored car with a juvenile male driver.î

On November 15, Lucas Aasum of Caledonia contacted the Caledonia Police to report a hit and run on his vehicle sometime between the night of November 14 and the morning of November 15. His 1998 Oldsmobile sustained damage to the front passenger door, the back passenger door, the bumper, the back right fender, and the mirror. He believes the vehicle that struck his car was a white van. No further information was available.

Vehicles damaged in collisons with deer

Deer have been a bane to travelers in Houston County in the past monthñ in the past ten days alone, nine car/deer accidents were reported to the Sheriffís Office. On November 17 just before 7 p.m., Lynn Schleich of Caledonia reported striking a deer on Highway 44 near Spring Grove. Just an hour earlier, Allamakee County authorities contacted HCSO to inform them of a car/deer accident on Highway 44 just east of the Skyline Supper Club; the vehicle was rendered undriveable.

Debra Dahlberg of Plover, WI requested that a deputy from HCSO look at her vehicle after sheíd hit a deer in Spring Grove. Earlier that day, Nicholas Schneider of Caledonia reported striking a deer on CSAH 10 just outside Houston around 6 p.m., and Luann Goergen contacted HCSO just after 7 p.m. earlier that day after her car collided with a deer on State Hwy. 44 in Union Township; the passenger side of her vehicle sustained damage.

On November 14, HCSO received a report that a deer was killed by an unknown vehicle on State Hwy. 44 near CSAH 17. That morning, Nadine Wise of Spring Grove called HCSO to report that her son had gone off the road on CSAH 12 after heíd slammed on the brakes to avoid some deer.

Jose Gonzalez reported to HCSO that heíd hit a deer with his semi-truck on State Hwy. 16 near Hokah on November 13. On November 12, Audrey Hahn of Caledonia reported striking a deer on State Hwy. 44 near the Inn on the Green; her vehicle sustained minimal damage to one headlight. About one hour prior to this incident, Richard Tuma of Cashton, IA reported that his vehicle had collided with a deer on State Hwy. 16 near Hokah.

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