Cecil man charged in vehicle standoff

Snowplows used to eventually trap driver, end incident
By: 
NEW Media Staff

A chase involving a historic military vehicle with a standoff sandwiched in between kept state Highway 29 closed for hours on the evening of May 8, and a Cecil man has been arrested and charged in the incident.

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department responded around 5:15 p.m. to reports of a heavy truck-type military vehicle on the highway in western Shawano County travelling down the roadway with a flat tire, thus causing a traffic hazard, according to Lt. Jesse Sperberg.

Deputies located and attempted to stop the vehicle, according to Sperberg, but the driver, identified in court records as Aaron Renel, led them on a short chase, coming to a stop in about a half-mile on the eastbound lane median of Highway 29 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 and would not 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, Sperberg said. Deputies, including trained negotiators, communicated with Renel for about four hours, and during this time, arrangements were made with the Shawano County Highway Department for the use of snowplows in case the driver tried to flee the scene.

About 9:30 p.m. Renel allegedly did just that, heading eastbound on Highway 29. Deputies tried to stop the suspect vehicle, using the snowplows 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, according to Sperberg.

Renel allegedly came back to the eastbound lanes but then against crossed the median and was driving the wrong way down the highway. At one point, Renel allegedly drove into the median and a deputy operating a snowplow was able to pin the truck into the median, immobilizing it. Renel allegedly would not exit his vehicle and had to be removed with force. No serious injuries were reported to any law enforcement or this suspect, Sperberg said.

Renel made his appearance in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on May 9 and is being charged with felony count 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.

Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court Judge William Kussel Jr. set a $10,000 cash bond for Renel and scheduled an adjourned initial appearance for 1:30 p.m. May 18 in Branch 2 at the Shawano County Courthouse. At that appearance, Kussel will also address charges filed April 29 against Renel that include intentionally pointing a firearm at a person, disorderly conduct with the use of a dangerous weapon, possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Other conditions of the bond include absolute sobriety and no illegal drugs, with prescription medication permitted. Renel is also not allowed to operate a motor vehicle.

Kussel also ordered a competency exam for Renel.