An individual responsible for stealing a vehicle and becoming involved in a series of crashes has been taken into custody.
On January 23, 2017, at approximately 10 p.m., a victim reported her SUV stolen from a business in the 2400 block of West College Avenue. The vehicle was running and unlocked when stolen.
As an Appleton officer was taking the stolen vehicle complaint, a report of a vehicle crash at the intersection of West College Avenue and Lilas Drive was received. The officer taking the stolen vehicle report recognized the stolen vehicle had been involved in the crash. He responded to the scene. Witnesses reported the stolen SUV leaving the area on North Lilas Street.
A second hit and run occurred on North Lilas Drive several minutes after the first hit and run. The driver of the stolen SUV appeared to intentionally stop without warning, causing a vehicle following him from the first crash, to smash into the rear of the stolen SUV. The stolen SUV left the area following the second crash. No injuries occurred in either crash.
The driver of the stolen SUV eventually drove the vehicle into a restricted area near the Grand Chute Municipal Building. He crashed into a wooded area and was taken into custody by Grand Chute Police Department officers. Appleton Police Department officers responded to take custody of the driver for the stolen vehicle and crashes occurring in Appleton.
A 55-year-old Waupun man has been arrested for Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Owners Consent, Theft, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and First Offense OWI. He was confined at the Outagamie County Jail on those charges. He also received traffic citations for Operating after Suspension, Hit and Run to Occupied Vehicle, Reckless Driving and Unsafe Lane Deviation. Additional charges may be requested following the completion of the investigation.
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GRAND CHUTE, Wis.-- Police arrested a man who allegedly was involved in two hit and run crashes with a stolen car.
Lt. Peters with the Appleton Police Department says officers were notified of a stolen car complaint earlier in the day.
Police were later called to a hit and run accident at the intersection of College Avenue and Lilas Drive in Appleton.
The alleged suspect fled the scene and was involved in a second accident.
He left and was taken into custody near the Grand Chute Police Department.
Lt. Peters says the man was arrested for operating while intoxicated.
The car he was driving was the car from the earlier stolen car complaint.
Police are still investigating the incident and more information is expected to be released this morning.
