Renel declared incompetent, institutionalized

Court to review status in three months, see if he’s able to aid in his own defense
By: 
Lee Pulaski
City Editor

A Cecil man facing charges related to a chase on state Highway 29 in a military vehicle has been declared not competent to aid in his own defense.

Aaron Renel, 40, has been examined for a second time and the report found he’s not able to assist in his defense at his time, but the potential of rehabilitation could bring him back to competency, at which time he’d be able to face felony counts of fleeing and eluding an officer in a vehicle and second-degree recklessly endangering safety, along with a misdemeanor count of resisting or obstructing an officer. Defense attorney Gary Dodge presented the report during a status conference Nov. 23 in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court.

“There’s a chance he could regain competency if he’s committed to a facility,” Dodge said.

Judge William Kussel Jr. ordered Renel to be committed to a state institution for treatment and scheduled another hearing for 10 a.m. Feb. 24, 2023, when Renel’s competency could be reviewed.

A previous competency exam had been conducted on Renel in early June showing he was not competent at that point to stand trial, but with rehabilitation, he could be restored to health to face the charges. Renel, who did not have counsel at the time, disputed the claims.

Even without consulting his client, Dodge made the recommendation in August to get a second opinion in order to get the matter cleared up.

This time, Renel accepted the competency report as he appeared via Zoom at the Shawano County Jail.

“We think he can regain competency with certain education,” Kussel said after Renel’s acceptance.

Renel was arrested after the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department responded on the evening of May 8 to reports of a heavy truck-type military vehicle on Highway 29 in western Shawano County travelling down the road with a flat tire, thus causing a traffic hazard.

Renel allegedly led deputies on a short chase, coming to a stop in about a half-mile on the eastbound lane median of the highway near County Road G in the Town of Seneca. The eastbound highway was shut down due to the incident.

Renel, 39, allegedly would not cooperate or exit the vehicle. Because of comments allegedly made by Renel and the conditions of this incident, the Shawano County Special Response Team responded to this scene. Deputies, including trained negotiators, communicated with Renel for about four hours.

About 9:30 p.m., Renel allegedly tried to flee, heading eastbound on Highway 29. Deputies tried to stop the suspect vehicle, using the snowplows from the Shawano County Highway Department in an attempt to perform a moving roadblock. The vehicle then crossed the median and began heading eastbound in the westbound lanes of the highway.

Renel allegedly came back to the eastbound lanes but then again crossed the median and was driving the wrong way down the highway before being stopped by a deputy driving a snowplow.


lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com