Dashcam video shows trooper dragged on I-94; Milwaukee man arrested & charged
JEFFERSON COUNTY (WITI) -- A 32-year-old Milwaukee man has been arrested and charged in connection with an incident in which a state trooper was dragged by a vehicle in Jefferson County this past Friday, December 26th.
John Dotson
The following charges have been filed against John Dotson:
The incident occurred just before 11:30 p.m. on I-94 in Jefferson County.
Officials say a citizen motorist called 911 and reported a vehicle traveling at high speeds, deviating onto the shoulder -- nearly involved in a collision. The trooper was able to locate the vehicle on I-94. That vehicle was observed traveling at 86 miles-per-hour, and was deviating from its lane of travel.
The trooper stopped the vehicle by the Lake Mills exit and made contact with the driver.
Officials say the driver had been drinking alcohol and was asked to perform field sobriety tests. Due to poor weather conditions, the driver was allowed to return to his vehicle after performing the tests.
The trooper completed some routine checks and approached the vehicle again. As the trooper was standing near the driver's side door, the driver put the vehicle into gear.
In an attempt to prevent the driver from leaving, the trooper reached into the open driver's side window and grabbed the driver.
The trooper ran back to his car and attempted to pursue the vehicle but he lost sight of it after it took the Lake Mills exit.
Additional units from the Wisconsin State Patrol, Lake Mills Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office responded to the area to assist in locating the vehicle.
At about 12:35 a.m., a Jefferson County Sheriffs Office deputy located the vehicle near N. Watertown Street in Johnson Creek. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop for the deputy and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit traveled north on State Highway 26, towards Watertown, at speeds of up to 100 miles-per-hour.
The vehicle eventually crashed in a roundabout on County Highway Y at State Highway 26. The driver fled on foot.
The driver was taken into custody Monday evening, December 29th by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and Wisconsin Probation and Parole. He was arrested at his workplace after attempting to flee on foot.