Waukesha police chase; speeds exceed 100 mph in miles-long pursuit

WAUKESHA, Wis. - A 33-year-old Waukesha man is accused of leading police on a chase that stretched nearly three miles on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The accused is Miguel Sanchez. 

Police chase in Waukesha

What we know:

According to the criminal complaint, a Waukesha police officer was dispatched to conduct a traffic stop on the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 22 for the Criminal Investigation Division. Law enforcement was attempting to take Sanchez in for disorderly conduct.

The officer spotted the vehicle, registered to the defendant, and activated his lights and siren on Arcadian Avenue near Springdale Road. After turning onto Springdale Road, the vehicle "continued to travel at approximately 10 mph and began to drive over the center line into oncoming traffic for approximately 50' before returning to the proper lane of traffic," the complaint says.

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Court filings say two detectives had been in contact with the defendant during this time and they indicated "he sounded highly intoxicated. Officers also believed that the defendant was possibly in possession of a firearm. For these reasons, a high risk traffic stop was conducted."

During the traffic stop, the defendant was "instructed to take his seatbelt off and throw the keys (to the vehicle) out the window," the complaint says. The defendant began yelling "why" and "(expletives) multiple times. He ignored multiple additional commands to keep his hands out the window -- and drove off.

The criminal complaint says the defendant's vehicle was pulling away from pursuing officers southbound on Springdale Road. Sanchez was traveling approximately 90 mph. He disregarded a sign stop -- and the police chase reached speeds in excess of 100 mph in a 45 mph speed zone. The police chase was terminated after 2.7 miles.

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Law enforcement located the defendant the next day, Jan. 23. At that time, he complied with law enforcement commands and was taken into custody.

Court appearances

What's next:

Sanchez made his initial appearance in Waukesha County court on Friday, Jan. 24. Cash bond was set at $5,000. Sanchez is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 7.