Caledonia Argus

Snowmobile chase ends in crash, arrest

Posted: 2/11/03

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

A 19-year old Spring Grove man was apprehended by Caledonia Police on February 4 after striking a parked vehicle with a snowmobile and then fleeing on foot.

Local authorities had attempted a traffic stop for a stop sign violation, but as the squad carís emergency lights came on, the snowmobile accelerated and reached a speed of 73 m.p.h., according to Caledonia Police.

The snowmobile then crashed into a car at the corner of West Caledonia Street and Honeysuckle Lane, at which point the driver tried to flee on foot. Officer James Stemper of CPD placed him under arrest moments later.

The man was brought to the Houston County Jail, where tests indicated that his blood-alcohol level was .20. He was cited for DWI, fleeing an officer, and obstructing the legal process.

Derelict snowmobilers sought by police

Two snowmobilers who fled authorities on February 9 are being sought by Caledonia Police.

Officer Stemper attempted a traffic stop on the two snowmobiles at the intersection of State Hwy. 44 and West Caledonia Street around 7 p.m., but the first snowmobile refused to stop and fled, nearly striking Stemperís patrol car in the process.

The second snowmobiler hesitated, and Stemper approached on foot, at which point the second driver fled in the same direction as the first. Stemper noted the registration number on the second snowmobile, and pursued them through Caledonia to the Caledonia Haulers lot. Losing sight of the first snowmobile, Stemper pursued the other one behind buildings near the lot.

Snowmobile tracks led to the front lot of the Caledonia Haulers main office building, where Stemper found the snowmobile, but not the driver. Identifying the vehicle by the registration, Stemper attempted to find the driver, but the search proved fruitless. An attempt was made to contact the registered owner of the snowmobile, but this also came to no avail.

The snowmobile deposited in front of Caledonia Haulers was towed and impounded. Caledonia Police have named a suspect in the case, whose name will be released when formal charges have been filed.

$500 in cash reported stolen

Zachary Pupp of 124 East Lincoln Street contacted local authorities to report that his apartment had been burglarized and $500 in cash was missing from his kitchen table. Pupp also stated that a door and a computer were damaged in the incident, which he believes occurred between February 2 and February 6. Caledonia Police are investigating the matter.

Hit-and-run prompts search for vehicle

Allan Moore of La Crosse reported on February 9 a hit-and-run accident in which his 2002 Chevy pickup was struck. The accident occurred at 217 East Lincoln Street in Caledonia. Local authorities have stated that the striking vehicle will have severe headlight damage to the passenger side and may also have residue of green paint from where it hit Mooreís truck.

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