On June 22, 2021, at 10:45am, the Sawyer County Communications Center received a 911 call from a woman who was hiking with a group of others along Peterson Road in the Town of Lenroot. The caller reported a male driving a white car had pulled up to them asking to borrow money. When told they didn’t have any money, the subject pulled out a gun and threaten harm. The subject then fled southbound on US Highway 63 toward the City of Hayward.
Sawyer County Deputies assisted by the City of Hayward Police Department located the vehicle near the City of Hayward and attempted to stop the vehicle. The vehicle fled and a pursuit ensued north on US Highway 63 and later east on State Highway 77. Assisting LCO Police Officers deployed tire deflation devices near the intersection of State Highway 77 and County Highway K and were able to disable the vehicle. The vehicle came to a stop on STH 77 near Kreyer Lane. After nearly an hour and a half stand-off with deputies, the suspect, Jason Scott Whitefeather, 45, of Milwaukee was taken into custody.
Assisting during the incident were the Sawyer/Washburn/Burnett Co. Tactical Team, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin DNR, Sawyer County Emergency Medical Services and LCO, City of Hayward and Town of Hayward Fire Departments. Whitefeather was arrested for First Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, Terroristic Threats, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Vehicle Operator Flee/Elude Officer and Felony Bail Jumping.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office as similar incidents also occurred in Bayfield and Iron Counties.
