Man faces multiple charges after high-speed chase

A 40-year-old man was charged Monday in Ozaukee County Circuit Court with stealing a car before leading police on a high-speed chase through Grafton and Cedarburg, hitting speeds in excess of 100 mph and crashing into several vehicles before running from officers.

Bernard J. Schlaeger III, of Dousman, who according to the criminal complaint admitted to using heroin and cocaine hours before the Thursday, June 4, incident, faces a litany of charges, including one for sixth-offense driving while intoxicated.

The chase began after a woman called police to report that she had loaded groceries into her vehicle in the parking lot of the Costco store in Grafton, started the car so it could cool down and was returning her shopping cart when she noticed a man later identified as Schlaeger sitting behind the wheel, the complaint states. She said she pounded on the window of the car but Schlaeger sped away.

An officer spotted the stolen car heading west on Highway 60 and started chasing Schlaeger, who hit speeds of 80 mph.

Schlaeger sideswiped a vehicle at Cheyenne Avenue, then hit another car as he swerved around traffic at 17th Avenue, according to the complaint.

In downtown Grafton, he turned south onto 12th Street, which turns into Wisconsin Avenue, disregarding red lights and driving on the wrong side of the road for a period of time. 

As Schlaeger continued to speed south toward Cedarburg, the officer was ordered to discontinue the chase.

In Cedarburg, an officer was waiting with tire spikes, but they missed the stolen car. Another officer responding to the scene was driving toward Schlaeger on Columbia Road when Schlaeger veered into the officer’s lane in what appeared to be an attempt to hit the squad car, the complaint states. The officer swerved to avoid a collision.

Schlaeger sped through a busy downtown Cedarburg at speeds of 60 to 80 mph, then hit speeds of more than 100 mph after making his way to Western Road.

At the roundabout at Western and Wauwatosa roads, Schlaeger drove through the median, striking several road signs before smashing into a dump truck, according to the complaint.

Schlaeger ran from the intersection with his arms full of clothing and was trying to open the door of a minivan when an officer who was chasing him tased and arrested him.

Schlaeger lied about his identity and was carrying a driver’s license for another person in his fanny pack. Also inside that pack were two syringes, other drug paraphernalia and a small baggie containing what authorities suspect was heroin, the complaint states.

Schlaeger said he and another man stole clothing from the Kohl’s store in Grafton before Schlaeger stole the vehicle, according to the complaint. 

As Schlaeger was being taken to jail, he began kicking the squad car windows and partition and said he would kill the officers, the complaint states.

In addition to sixth-offense driving while intoxicated, Schlaeger is charged with stealing a car, two counts of fleeing officers and causing damage to property, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, threatening an officer and two counts of bail jumping, all felonies.

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

At the time of the incident, Schlaeger was free in lieu of bail on felony drug and bail jumping charges in Waukesha County, the complaint states.

Schlaeger pleaded not guilty to the Ozaukee County charges during a hearing Monday.