On Sunday September 8, 2024, officers from the Rice Lake Police Department were dispatched to a business on the southside of the city for the report of two disorderly and intoxicated individuals causing a disturbance at the establishment.
While officers were responding to the area, it was reported the two individuals left in a car north bound on S Main St. A short time later officers observed the suspect vehicle traveling at an extremely fast rate of speed northbound on Main St. Officers attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The vehicle failed to stop for the officers, which had their emergency lights and sirens activated. A pursuit was initiated that continued through Rice Lake and into the county. During this pursuit one Rice Lake police car sustained damage when the suspect vehicle conducted a U-Turn in front of it. The officer was not injured.
Deputies from the Barron County Sheriff’s office took over the pursuit while in their jurisdiction and continued the pursuit until it ended with the suspect vehicle crashing. Below are details from Sheriff Fitzgerald in Barron County:
September 8, 2024, at 6:30 p.m., the Rice Lake Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle on Main Street in the City of Rice Lake and that vehicle failed to stop. Barron County Sheriff’s Department deputies assisted in this chase and took over the chase on Hwy 48. The chase continued north on Hwy 48 for about 14 miles. The vehicle lost control on a curve and crashed into the ditch.
Deputies took two subjects into custody at the scene and both subjects were transported to Marshfield Medical Center for their injuries. The passenger in the vehicle was later released and the driver, Raul Velasquez, 28 of Arizona, is being held in the Barron County Jail awaiting formal charges of OWI Causing Injury, Fleeing an Officer, Reckless Driving and Disorderly Conduct by the Barron County District Attorney’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Department was assisted by the Birchwood Fire and EMS, Marshfield Medical Center Ambulance and the WI State Patrol.
