CALEDONIA, Wis. (WFRV) – A 36-year-old Illinois man is in custody following a multi-state vehicle theft and police pursuit that began in Columbia County early Thursday morning.
According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the incident started just after 4:00 a.m. on July 24, when deputies received an automated 911 call reporting a crash from a cell phone near Mile Marker 108 on I-90/94/39. However, no crash was found.
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About 20 minutes later, dispatchers received a call from the Days Inn hotel on Kinney Road in Caledonia, where a woman reported that an acquaintance had stolen her vehicle along with her phone and money. Authorities later determined that the automated crash alert was triggered when the suspect discarded the victim’s phone while fleeing the scene.
The suspect was identified as 36-year-old Michael Hoffman of DeKalb, Illinois. Deputies issued an alert to law enforcement agencies between Portage and DeKalb.
Just after 5:00 a.m., a Wisconsin State Patrol trooper spotted the stolen vehicle in Janesville. After initially stopping, Hoffman reportedly became non-compliant, prompting a short standoff. He then fled in the vehicle, leading authorities on a pursuit. The chase was later terminated before the vehicle crossed into Illinois.
Shortly after, the South Beloit Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle again as it traveled southbound on I-90/39 toward Rockford. Authorities chased the vehicle for about 20 miles before terminating the pursuit east of Rockford.
At around 7:30 a.m., the Illinois State Police informed Columbia County officials that the stolen vehicle had been located abandoned on I-90 in McHenry County, Illinois. A search for the suspect was unsuccessful.
Columbia County investigators were eventually able to confirm Hoffman’s identity with assistance from the DeKalb Police Department. On July 28, a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges including taking and driving a vehicle without consent and theft of movable property.
Hoffman was arrested by the DeKalb Police Department on July 29 and is currently being held in the Winnebago County Jail in Rockford. He faces charges related to the pursuit in Illinois, and Columbia County officials say they will seek extradition to Wisconsin.
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“This investigation is another great example of teamwork and communication between numerous law enforcement agencies to identify, locate and take a suspect into custody,” said Captain David Clark of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
No further details were released.
