Shawano man charged with fleeing, fentanyl

A Shawano man was charged March 24 with a multitude of charges, including second degree-recklessly endangering safety and possession of fentanyl after a March 23 arrest in the Town of Wescott.

Alex J. Stodall-Wheeler, 33, was charged with one count of operating a vehicle to flee/elude an officer, one count of possession of narcotic drugs, one count of possession of THC (second or subsequent offense), one count of second-degree recklessly endangering safety, one misdemeanor count of resisting or obstructing an officer, one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one misdemeanor count of operating while revoked.

If convicted, Stodall-Wheeler faces $10,000 in fines and 3½ years in prison for each count of fleeing, possession of narcotic drugs, and possession of THC; $25,000 and 10 years for second-degree recklessly endangering safety; $10,000 and nine months for resisting or obstructing an officer; $500 and 30 days for possession of drug paraphernalia; and $2,500 and one year for operating while revoked.

According to the criminal complaint, a Shawano County sheriff’s deputy was made aware of a vehicle leaving a drug house close to their location on County Road A in the Town of Wescott. The vehicle turned onto state Highway 47-55 and allegedly began traveling faster than the posted speed limit of 55 miles per hours, after the deputy had turned to follow the vehicle. From there, the deputy allegedly turned on his lights and caught on radar that the vehicle was traveling up to 90 mph.

The driver of the vehicle then made a turn onto Balsam Row Road in Wescott and traveled north at a speed of 65 mph. The operator of the vehicle then came to a complete stop, forcing the deputy to perform evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision. The vehicle then began driving north again on Balsam Row Road. From there, the vehicle came to a stop and the operator exited the vehicle and began to flee on foot. With a K-9 unit, the deputy was able to catch up to the driver, due to a muzzle punch from the dog.

The driver continued to disobey law enforcement directions and the deputy allegedly deployed their taser. After initially falling to the ground, the driver attempted to get back up. The K-9 unit caught up with the driver and bit him on the arm. The driver again tried to get up, before the deputy forced him to the ground. In the struggle the K-9 bit the driver again, this time on the ankle.

The driver was identified as Stodall-Wheeler. In the vehicle Stodall-Wheeler was driving, deputies allegedly found two five-gallon buckets containing a green, plant material, which tested positive for properties of hemp. Included in the five-gallon buckets was a plate with a white residue that tested positive for fentanyl. Deputies also allegedly found a $20 bill folded up with one gram of white powder, which tested positive for fentanyl. A vial of a green leafy substance that tested positive for THC was also allegedly found on Stodall-Wheeler’s person.

The registration of the vehicle had allegedly expired on March 11 and Stodall-Wheeler’s driving status is revoked.

During Stodall-Wheeler’s initial appearance, Shawano-Menominee Circuit Court Judge William Kussel Jr. set a cash bond of $10,000 and scheduled a preliminary hearing for March 31.

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com