On April 23, 2024, at approximately 10:15 PM, a Lake Hallie Police Officer observed a red Chevy S10 Pickup truck parked near the front of Aldi Grocery Store, 3064 Commercial Blvd, in the Village of Lake Hallie after store hours.
A check of the registration showed the license plate expired in 2011 and had an expired registration associated with it. The officer activated her emergency lights and siren to stop the vehicle, at Highway 124 and Highway 53 but the truck continued southbound on Highway 53. A pursuit was initiated and continued into Trempealeau County where the vehicle was disabled by tire deflation devices deployed by the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office. A high-risk traffic stop was conducted with the assistance of the Eau Claire County, Trempealeau County Sheriff Offices, and the Wisconsin State Patrol where the driver, Anthony Ledesma (41 years old from River Falls), was taken into custody.
Ledesma showed signs of impairment and had an open bottle of whiskey in the vehicle. The vehicle was
found to be stolen out of Milwaukee, and Ledesma had an extraditable felony warrant out of California for Obstruct, Resist an Executive Officer. Ledesma refused field sobriety tests then was taken to Mayo Hospital where Officers obtained a search warrant for Ledesma’s blood. As a result, Ledesma was arrested for Knowingly Fleeing an officer, Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated -2nd Offense and Take/Operate Vehicle without Owner’s Consent. Afterwards, he was taken to the Chippewa County Jail for processing. The results of the blood test will not be known for several weeks as it will be sent to the Wisconsin State Hygiene Laboratory.
The Lake Hallie Police Department would like to thank the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office, Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office, Eau Claire Police Department, and the Wisconsin State Patrol for their assistance in this arrest.
