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Wrong-way driver in jail

Suspect charged with reckless endangerment

Officers pursued a driver going the wrong way on U.S. Highway 10 about 11 miles before forcing him off the road.

Andrew S. Sleaper, 25, homeless, is charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, fleeing an officer, driving a vehicle without consent and hit and run.

At 2:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11, Waupaca County Deputy Brittany Mathewson and Weyauwega Police Officer Justin Malueg responded to a report of a vehicle going the wrong way on the eastbound lanes of U.S. 10 near Sunset Curve.

Waupaca Police officers Daniel Wasrud and Tom Grant and Waupaca County Sgt. Clint Thobaben and Matthew Whitaker also responded and made their way to U.S. 10.

At 2:34 a.m., Wasrud reported the vehicle just drove past him near the State Highway 22 exit. It was still going the wrong way on U.S. 10.

Wasrud called in the license plate and the vehicle came back as stolen.

Authorities later learned Sleaper was driving the vehicle.

Whitaker and Wasrud reported traveling 75 mph in the westbound lanes, parallel with Sleaper’s vehicle going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes.

At County Trunk Q west of Waupaca, Sleaper slowed to cross over into the westbound lanes of U.S. 10, according to the criminal complaint.

Whitaker tried to block Sleaper’s vehicle with his squad car.

But Sleaper went through the ditch and across the median, hitting the brush guard of Whitaker’s squad car.

Sleaper was then traveling back east in the westbound lanes.

Whitaker and Wasrud followed Sleaper onto the westbound lanes as he continued to go the wrong way.

Malueg placed spike strips on U.S. 10 at the Fulton Street exit.

Sleaper hit the strips at 2:41 a.m., according to the criminal complaint.

Although both front tires were flat, Sleaper continued traveling down the center of the westbound lanes at 10-15 mph, the complaint says.

Just east of the State 22 off-ramp, Sleaper’s car began to fishtail wildly.

After Whitaker saw two semis headed their way, he bumped his vehicle into the side of Sleaper’s car and pushed it into a guardrail.

Officers pulled Sleaper through the passenger’s side, escorted him to the ground and handcuffed him.

Sleaper remains in custody on a $10,000 cash bond.

Criminal record

Sleaper was charged in Waupaca County as a repeat offender due to prior convictions.

On June 28, 2018, Winnebago County placed Sleaper on three years of probation for taking a vehicle without consent.

On Oct. 22, 2018, Waukesha County sentenced Sleaper to one year in state prison for fleeing an officer. He was granted 89 days credit and released on extended supervision on July 16, 2019.

On July 30, Sleaper was arrested and placed on a probation hold at Milwaukee County jail.

He was released from custody on Aug. 8.

Sleaper faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of his Waupaca County charges.

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