Two separate high speed pursuits net two in custody in Dodge County

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office arrested two people following two separate high-speed pursuits over the weekend.

Just before 7:30 p.m. on Friday, a deputy passed the intersection of County Highway M and Juneau Street in the town of Emmet near Watertown. A pickup truck had been stopped at the stop sign, and shortly after the squad car passed the driver of the truck squealed its tires as it left the stop sign, then passed the fully marked squad car at a high rate of speed.

The deputy attempted to stop the pickup, which accelerated to speeds in excess of 100 mph while, at times, driving on the wrong side of the road and turning off its headlights and taillights. The pursuit ended nearly six miles later in the town of Clyman, when the driver pulled over on his own and was taken into custody. The driver, 22-year-old Jose Moreno of Clyman, was arrested for felony fleeing an officer, operating while under the influence of an intoxicant and several traffic citations, including operating without a valid driver’s license.

At about 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, a sheriff’s deputy observed another pickup driving on the wrong side of the street, nearly striking parked vehicles, at speeds nearly double the speed limit in the city of Juneau. The deputy attempted to stop the pickup, but the driver increased their speed to well in excess of the 25 mph speed limit while disregarding stop signs. The pursuit eventually left the city westbound on County Highway W at speeds in excess of 100 mph, with the truck’s headlights and taillights turned off, and on the wrong side of the road. The pursuit ended when the pickup left the roadway and struck some wooden cribbing, which had been placed near a utility pole for work being done. The crash occurred on County Highway W near High Point Road. The pickup started on fire, and the fire department and an ambulance were immediately requested. Deputies found the driver, 23-year-old Dylan Pocius of rural Reeseville, lying on the ground near the truck. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment and later brought to the Dodge County Jail. Charges of operating while intoxicated third offense, operating after revocation, failing to have an ignition interlock device installed, as well as felony fleeing an officer are pending.