Chase through village ends with driver’s arrest

A 39-year-old Two Rivers resident was arrested after leading police on a chase through the Village of Grafton, crashing into another vehicle and driving into Paramount Plaza last week.

Cody S. Slowinski is charged in Ozaukee County Circuit Court with two felonies and three misdemeanors in connection with the March 2, chase.

The incident began just after 7 p.m. when Grafton police responded to reports of  a man honking the horn of his car, banging on his vehicle and yelling for help at Bridge Street and 11th Avenue.

According to a criminal complaint, officers saw Slowinski sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle and punching the door. He looked at them, then drove off.

A short time later, Slowinski turned into the parking lot of an apartment complex and, in the process of turning around, nearly hit the squad car that was following him with its emergency lights on, the complaint states.

Slowinski eventually made his way to Washington Street and was driving east at 45 to 50 mph when he rear-ended a vehicle that was trying to get out of his way, according to the complaint. The other car was spun around by the impact and seriously damaged.

Police chased Slowinski through the village’s downtown area and other areas of the village. The chase led police as far north as Hickory Street, as far west as First Avenue and as far south as Beech Street.

Police pursued for nearly four miles before Slowinski drove his vehicle onto a sidewalk in Paramount Plaza and ran, according to the complaint.

Police continued to pursue Slowinski and tased him after he ignored instructions from officers. Slowinski fell in a muddy area after being tased. Slowinski then jumped up as though attempting to flee and was tased again before being arrested, the complaint stated.

Police recovered multiple baggies and a spoon with a brownish-colored cotton ball and damp substance on it from Slowinski’s vehicle, according to the complaint. Officers also found several charred balls of Chore Boy cleaning pads, which are copper scrubbers that can be used to smoke methamphetamine or crack cocaine.

Prosecutors allege Slowinski ignored police sirens and lights, failed to stop at multiple stop signs, crossed over to the wrong side of the road, drove without headlights and exceeded the speed limit on residential roads.

According to police, Slowinski and his girlfriend had an argument before police were called and that the suspect had recently used heroin.

Officers said that Slowinski told them he had driven from Two Rivers to Milwaukee to purchase heroin. He also admitted to using heroin in Milwaukee and again in Grafton before officers arrived, the complaint states.

When asked about his behavior during the chase, police say he told them he gets that way occasionally when using drugs.

Slowinski was evaluated at a local hospital before being taken to the Ozaukee County Jail.

Slowinski faces felony counts of fleeing officers and second-degree recklessly endangering safety, which are punishable by a maximum three years in prison and three years of extended supervision and five years in prison and five years of extended supervision, respectively.

 He is also charged with misdemeanor counts of hit and run, obstructing an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.

During a March 4 court hearing, Ozaukee County Circuit Judge Paul Malloy set Slowinski’s bail at $20,000.