A Wadsworth woman was taken into custody after she allegedly led police on a reckless vehicle chase in Pleasant Prairie that came to an end with officers finding a malnourished dog in her car.
The Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, Police Department said a police officer came upon a possible disabled motorist on Highway 50 during the early morning hours on Saturday.
The vehicle fled when the officer pulled up and the car entered the oncoming traffic lanes of Green Bay Road.
Officers attempted multiple intervention strategies, including a tire deflation device and a moving roadblock, police officials said.
The suspect avoided the tire deflation device by crossing back into oncoming traffic within an active construction zone.
Police said the driver later swerved toward a police squad car during the roadblock attempt.
The suspect again entered oncoming traffic and continued into the construction zone.
“Due to the imminent danger posed to construction crews, motorists, and officers, a decision was made to end the pursuit,” police officials said.
Officers used a controlled, slow-speed intervention technique to pin the vehicle against the curb and safely disable it.
The suspect, identified as Heather A. Demarr, 32, of Wadsworth, was taken into custody.
Officers located a malnourished dog in poor health inside Demarr’s car, police said.
The dog was transported to the Wisconsin Humane Society Kenosha Campus for care.
Demarr was transported to the Kenosha County Jail on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges.
“We would like to thank Pleasant Prairie Fire and Rescue, Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, and Wisconsin State Patrol. A special thank you to Kenosha Campus – Wisconsin Humane Society for providing care to the animal,” police officials said.
Demarr is facing charges of first-degree reckless endangering safety, second-degree reckless endangering safety, vehicle operator fleeing to elude an officer, resisting or obstructing an officer, failure to provide sufficient food for an animal, operating without a valid driver’s license, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, non-registration of a vehicle and driving the wrong way on a divided highway.
Prosecutors sought a cash bond of $50,000, while a defense attorney for Demarr sought a $5,000 cash bond.
Court records show Kenosha County Commissioner William Michel set bond at $25,000 during a court hearing on Monday.
Demarr remains held in the Kenosha County Jail and would need to post the full cash bail in order to be released.
She is scheduled to appear in court again on May 6 for a preliminary hearing.