McGregor man threatens officers after high-speed chase
On April 1, at 6:17 a.m., a 1998 Ford Ranger pickup truck squealed its tires while entering the parking lot of the BP South gas station in the city of Prairie du Chien. The driver of the vehicle put gas into his pickup truck then entered BP South. The driver asked the clerk for a free pack of cigarettes. When the clerk refused to give him a free pack of cigarettes, the man said some profanities to the clerk and exited without paying for his gas. The driver squealed the tires on the pickup truck while exiting the parking lot and drove northbound on Marquette Road.
A Prairie du Chien police officer and Crawford County deputy began searching for the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle was located driving northbound on South Dousman Street near East Webster Street. The suspect vehicle stopped in the middle of the road and backed up while squealing its tires. The suspect vehicle then drove northbound on South Dousman Street, directly toward a Crawford County squad car, causing the deputy to take evasive action to avoid a collision. The deputy activated emergency lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop. However, the suspect vehicle would not stop and drove through the stop signs at East Iowa Street and East Blackhawk Avenue then northbound on East Blackhawk Avenue. The deputy and a Prairie du Chien police officer pursued the suspect vehicle northbound on Highway 27 at a speed of 85 mph.
During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle swerved completely across the center line multiple times. While on Highway 27, south of Radio Lane, the suspect vehicle stopped in the middle of the road, put the vehicle in reverse and backed into the guardrail along the southbound lane of traffic. The deputy and officer approached the suspect vehicle, shut the ignition off and took the suspect, Jon J. Rettig, 61, McGregor, into custody. Rettig made multiple direct threats towards the deputy and officer, including shooting them in the head.
Potential charges regarding Crawford County for Rettig include operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (third offense), eluding an officer, reckless driving-endangering safety, speeding, failure to keep vehicle under control, operating left of the center line, disorderly conduct, threats to law enforcement officers.
Possible charges regarding the city of Prairie du Chien for Rettig include theft, disorderly conduct with a motor vehicle, display of play power/speed and multiple citations for failing to stop at stop signs.
It was determined after apprehending Rettig that he also struck the Walgreen’s propane storage cage with his vehicle prior to this entire incident.
