Driver who tore through Port pleads to felonies

A 22-year-old driver who tore through Port Washington at speeds of more than 90 mph, forcing cars to swerve off the road and pedestrians to run for cover, pleaded no contest to two felonies recently in a case that dates to September 2019.

Jordan D. Murdock of Green Bay, who ended up ditching his car in downtown Port and leading police on a foot chase before being found hiding in a dumpster on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, was found guilty of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and attempting to flee from officers during a June 16 hearing in Ozaukee County Circuit Court.

He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Paul Malloy on Aug. 17.

Murdock, who authorities said appeared to be strung out on drugs when arrested, has a criminal record that includes multiple burglary convictions in Brown County and is currently serving a prison sentence at New Lisbon Correctional Institution.

The Port Washington incident began at about 4 p.m. when Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Deputy John Layden was monitoring reports from a driver on I-43 who said a car was swerving in and out of traffic, almost hitting other vehicles, then saw the Cadillac driven by Murdock exit the freeway on the north side of Port Washington and go through the Arby’s drive-through.

Murdock exited the drive-through and was driving north through the Piggly Wiggly parking lot when Layden activated his vehicle’s emergency lights. Murdock slowly turned around, then quickly accelerated, jumping the curb and driving over grass onto Wisconsin Street. Layden did not chase him for safety reasons.

Port Washington police officer Kirstin Moertl was parked at Drews True Value Hardware just south of Arby’s and saw Murdock’s car race past, heading south in the northbound lane. 

Moertl pulled out and followed Murdock as cars skidded off the street to avoid the speeding Cadillac, but she broke off the chase after losing sight of him.

As Moertl continued south on Wisconsin Street, drivers honked their horns and gestured to let her know Murdock was headed toward downtown, where authorities say he sped south on Franklin Street, then managed to make the turn onto Grand Avenue.

“It was amazing, given the speeds he was estimated to have been traveling, that he managed to make that the turn, although one of his tires was flat so maybe he hit the curb,” Hingiss said. 

As officers were searching for Murdock downtown, they received a report that he had abandoned his car in the lower parking lot of the Harborview Hotel along the west slip of the harbor and was running south toward Coal Dock Park.

Murdock then doubled back on the harborwalk, cut through the hotel’s lower parking lot and was seen near the intersection of Grand Avenue and Franklin Street, Hingiss said.

As the search for him continued, a witness directed officer Gary Belzer to a dumpster in an alley off Franklin Street near Bernie’s Fine Meats where he found Murdock hiding.

  After climbing out of the dumpster, Murdock, who had glossy eyes and was sweating profusely, nodded off and began falling backwards, according to the complaint.

“It was readily obvious to her (Moertl) that he was under the influence of some type of drug,” the complaint states.

Hingiss, who noted that officers did the right thing by deciding not to chase Murdock’s car, said at the time that the incident could have ended in tragedy.

“He could have plowed into cars or run pedestrians over,” Police Chief Kevin Hingiss said. “It’s amazing that no one was injured or killed. We’re really lucky.”

First-degree recklessly endangering safety is punishable by a maximum seven years, six months in prison and five years of extended supervision. Attempting to flee an officer is punishable by a maximum 18 months in prison and two years of extended supervision. But because Murdock is a repeat offender, he faces enhanced penalties.