Vehicle Pursuit Ends in Dunn County, Deputy Deploys Less-Lethal

On Saturday, April 1, 2023 the Dunn County Communications Center dispatched Dunn County Sheriffs' deputies to assist with a vehicle pursuit entering Dunn County. The Chippewa County Sheriff's Office and Wisconsin State Patrol were pursuing a vehicle and advised that the vehicle had rammed squad cars in Chippewa County. The suspect's tires had already been deflated and it was still refusing to stop.

The pursuit ended near Highway 64 and CTY TK W North in Dunn County when the vehicle entered the ditch and became disabled. The suspect continued to refuse commands of law enforcement. A Dunn County Sheriff's deputy deployed a "Less-Lethal" bean bag round to the upper thigh of the suspect and he then surrendered.

The suspect was taken into custody safely and without further incident. The suspect was identified as 40 year-old Mitchell Ludke of Knapp, WI, Dunn County.

Chippewa County Sheriff advises that Ludtke now faces three counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, felony bail jumping, operating while intoxicated, knowingly fleeing, misdemeanor bail jumping, operating after revocation, and two counts of felony criminal damage to property.

Fatal Fire - Town of New Haven

On March 26, 2023 at approximately 6:57 PM, the Dunn County Communication Center

received a call from an individual who advised of a structure fire at a residence with a person

still trapped in the residence. The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the Boyceville Fire

Department responded to scene at E971 1330th Ave in the Township of New Haven, Dunn

County, Wisconsin.

The residence was fully engulfed in fire upon the arrival of fire personnel. Boyceville Fire

Department along with Sand Creek Fire, Glenwood City Fire, Clear Lake Fire, Clayton Fire and

Prairie Farm Fire worked for several hours to extinguish the fire.

On March 27, 2023 the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office along with Boyceville Fire Department, the

State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office located human

remains in the residence while processing the scene.

The cause and origin of the fire remains under investigation. The Medical Examiner’s Office

and Dunn County Sheriff’s Office are working to confirm the identity of the victim

Sheriff Kevin Bygd

WSP Trooper Struck and Injured on Interstate 94 in Dunn County

On March 9, 2023 at approximately 9:57 PM, the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and Menomonie Fire Department were dispatched for a vehicle crash on Interstate 94 near mile marker 33 westbound in the Township of Lucas, Dunn County. The Dunn County Communications Center received information from the Wisconsin State Patrol (WSP) that a Trooper was investigating a crash at that location and was struck by a passing vehicle.

Preliminary investigation showed the WSP Trooper was outside of his patrol car standing alongside a pickup truck on the right shoulder of the freeway investigating an unrelated crash. A westbound sedan approached that scene, struck the Trooper, and also struck the pickup truck he was standing alongside. The road conditions were snow-covered and slippery.

The pickup truck was occupied by two adult males who were uninjured. The striking vehicle was occupied by three adult females who were uninjured. Both vehicles received disabling damage and were removed from the scene by tow trucks. The Trooper’s squad car was not struck. Lane 2 near the crash location was closed for approximately 2 hours during the incident.

The Trooper was transported by ambulance to an area hospital and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The Sheriff’s Office reminds and urges all drivers to reduce speed when inclement weather and road conditions are present. In addition, drivers should reduce speed and exercise caution when approaching emergency scenes on the highway. State law requires drivers to reduce speed in both of these situations.

SS 346.57(3) “The operator of every vehicle shall… drive at an appropriate reduced speed… when special hazard exists with regard to other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions.”

The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office.

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Sheriff Kevin Bygd

/CP