Gun found in vehicle full of juveniles after they attempted to flee law enforcement in Fond du Lac County

Multiple law enforcement jurisdictions came together early Saturday morning, January 4, 2025, to take several juveniles into custody after a high speed chase that went through Fond du Lac and Winnebago Counties.

At 3:23 AM, a Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper spotted a vehicle driving over 100 mph southbound on I-41 entering Fond du Lac County from Winnebago County. The trooper initiated a traffic stop but the driver of the vehicle continued south at speeds reaching 120 mph.

Near North Fond du Lac, the driver crossed over to the northbound lanes while still driving southbound, then turned around and headed back northbound.

At some point a mom of an occupant of the vehicle called the Winnebago County Dispatch Center and stated all occupants of the vehicle were under 18. With this information, now north of Oshkosh, the trooper made the decision to terminate the chase. A Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Deputy who was also involved in the pursuit also turned off their emergency lights and siren but attempted to follow the vehicle and saw the driver exit at Breezewood Road into Neenah before terminating altogether.

Minutes later a Neenah officer spotted the vehicle parked in a parking lot off of west Bell Street in their city and a high risk traffic stop was conducted where the driver was arrested and the others were detained. It was later found at least one of the occupants was a 17-year-old runaway from Kaukauna, and a gun was located in the vehicle.