Story originally printed in the Tomah Journal or online at www.tomahjournal.com

Published - Thursday, June 26, 2008

Tomah police experience wild hunt for suspected drunken driver

Tomah police had to go to great lengths Monday to catch a suspected drunken driver who reportedly tried to hide from police by jumping in a swamp.

Michael J. Grider, 28, of Tomah was pulled over for speeding on Hwy. 21 about one-half mile east of Tomah about 9:50 p.m.

Immediately after stopping the vehicle he was driving, Grider ran and jumped into a swampy area on the south side of Hwy. 21, according to Tomah police.

The officer yelled at Grider to stop, but Grider went out further into the swamp and hid behind some weeds about 50 yards from shore.

A few moments later, Grider disappeared and refused to talk to police.

Police officers and members of the Tomah Fire Department used a boat to find Grider hiding in some weeds and hauled him to shore, where he was arrested.

Grider could be charged with third offense operating while intoxicated, second offense operating after revocation, resisting officers, unreasonable and imprudent speed, and three counts of bail jumping from Jefferson and Dane counties.

As officers struggled to find Grider, officers contacted the owner of the vehicle, Alicia T. Blackhawk, 26, of rural Tomah, who said the vehicle had been stolen. Police, however, later determined that was not true, and Blackhawk was arrested for obstructing officers.

All stories copyright 2006 Tomah Journal and other attributed sources.