Ludtke in custody after vehicle pursuit

Two Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office vehicles were intentionally struck, while occupied, during a pursuit April 1. No one was injured during the pursuit, which started in the Town of Birch Creek and ended in Dunn County. Photo by Chippewa County Sheriff's Department

By Julia Wolf

Mitchell Ludtke, 40, Holcombe, was arrested and is expected to face a number of criminal charges, after leading a vehicle pursuit April 1.

According to the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle pursuit began in the Town of Birch Creek, at about 2:07 p.m. The operator of the vehicle attempted to strike a marked City of Cornell police vehicle and a Cornell officer.

The driver also intentionally struck two sheriff’s vehicles, fully marked and occupied. The sheriff’s vehicles were disabled from the damage.

The vehicle was pursued by law enforcement officers into Dunn County, before it was stopped and Ludtke was taken into custody.

“It definitely was high speed at times,” said Chippewa County Sheriff Travis Hakes.

No injuries were reported to any involved parties.

Ludtke is expected to be charged with three counts of Recklessly Endangering Safety First Degree, Felony Bail Jumping, Operating While Intoxicated, Knowingly Fleeing, Misdemeanor Bail Jumping, Operating After Revocation and two counts of felony Criminal Damage to Property.

“He is being held on a $200,000 cash bond,” said Hakes. The Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, City of Cornell Police, City of Bloomer Police, Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin DNR, responded to the incident.

“I’m grateful that no one was harmed and that we were able to, you know, work together as law enforcement professionals across the Chippewa Valley, to see it have a safe ending,” said Hakes.