Ripon man who intentionally rammed police cruiser in custody

A 49-year-old Ripon man was taken into custody Saturday, June 21, 2025, after ramming his vehicle into law enforcement vehicles in Fond du Lac County.

At about 11:13 AM, the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a reckless driver traveling Eastbound on Highway 23 through the Village of Rosendale. The caller reported the vehicle was speeding and had run a red light at the intersection of Highway 23 and Highway 26.

Shortly thereafter, a Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Deputy, along with a Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper, observed the suspect vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed as it approached the City of Fond du Lac on Highway 23. The driver failed to yield to emergency lights and sirens, merged onto Interstate 41 northbound, and a pursuit was initiated.

The suspect continued driving recklessly on Interstate 41. Near Sales Road, the suspect attempted to use a turnaround in the median to turn southbound, however the sheriff’s deputy executed a PIT maneuver on the vehicle. The driver was able to regain control and continued fleeing southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 41.

The Deputy and the State Trooper attempted to box in the vehicle, but the suspect managed to maneuver around them after striking the Trooper’s squad car. The Deputy then used his patrol vehicle to push the suspect’s car into the east ditch line, pinning it against a snow fence disabling the vehicle and ending the pursuit.

The man is facing charges of Fleeing and Eluding an Officer, First Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, and Hit and Run.