Stolen Car, Gas Drive-off Ends in Beach Chase

The Ozaukee County Sheriff's Department has apprehended three of four men involved in a vehicle theft and chase on Monday night.

The Sheriff's Department became aware of the stolen vehicle after Grafton Police reported a gas drive-off in the village, according to a press release from the Sheriff's Department.

A Wisconsin State Patrol trooper recognized the description of the vehicle, which was traveling north on Interstate 43 near exit 100 to Port Washington, the release said. The unidentified suspects inside were described as four black males.

After the vehicle was located, a brief pursuit ensued; within a half-hour the trooper located the vehicle abandoned at Harrington State Beach Park in Belgium and determined that it had been reported stolen by the Racine County Sheriff on Sept. 23, according to the press release.

Park visitors told law enforcement officials they saw a group of young, black males running south on the beach along Lake Michigan; Ozaukee Sheriff Deputies, a Mequon Police K-9 Officer and Port Washington Police Officers coordinated a search of the area.

Sheriff's Department Capt. David Guss said the Ozaukee County rescue boat was also involved in the apprehension of the men.

Law enforcement used a thermal imager on the boat to attempt to detect where the men might be running on the beach, Guss said. The department hit a few gliches from false reports, he said, when the thermal unit indicated spots which inevitably turned out to be a deer getting a drink at the lake.

The Ozaukee Sheriff's Department also utilized a reverse 911 system to alert residents of the event asking that they call with any information, the release said. A number of residents did call with sightings that assisted in the eventual apprehensions.

Three of the four men were captured in both the town and city of Port Washington between 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. The distance between the state park in Belgium and the beaches in the city of Port is about 10 miles.

Two of the suspects are adults and one is a juvenile; all the individuals in custody are from Milwaukee, though no names have been released pending any charges. One individual remains at large.

Guss said the suspects will likely face charges for being party to the crime of operating an auto without owner’s consent and resisting an officer. Charges might also arise in Grafton because of the stolen gas.

The suspects have not been too willing to talk throughout the process, and it is hard to say who was driving or who the fourth person might be, Guss said. The adults are expected in court Wednesday.