A Waupun officer wanted in a string of burglaries is under arrest after leading cops on a chase in a stolen vehicle.
Lieutenant Brad Young is wanted in connection with several burglaries in Green Lake, Wisconsin, and this weekend officers from a number of local agencies came together to locate and arrest him. The Waupun officer was found with the help of SWAT teams from Washburn, Barron, Burnett, and Douglas counties, but, as officers closed in, he sped off in a stolen car.
The incident started when Young allegedly broke into the Walkers Kohlerville Restaurant, trying to take money from its ATM. He was frightened off by the restaurant’s alarm system and fled into a cornfield.
“Green Lake is full of corn fields, that proved to be problematic in the search,” Green Lake Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Putzke said.
But officers were able to locate a car belonging to the Waupun officer, and inside were several stolen items.
After a report came that a car had been stolen nearby, officers used a cell phone inside the car to track it down.
Young led officers on a high-speed chase but eventually gave in and was arrested.
Fellow officers and neighbors said they were shocked to hear the allegations against Young, who was described as a good family man.
Deputy Chief Scott Louden said he has been friends with Young for more than a decade, and saw nothing to indicate that “this was going on.” He could not think of a reason why the high-ranking officer would suddenly go on a crime spree .
There could still be more trouble ahead for the Waupun officer, Putzke said. There have been a number of other burglaries in the area, and they are now trying to see if those incidents are connected to Young.
