Suspect charged with reckless endangerment

Ronald K. Knapstein, 26, Scandinavia, is charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and fleeing an officer.

He has been charged as a repeater, which could add up to four years to the maximum 10 years in prison if convicted of reckless endangerment.

Shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, Knapstein’s probation officer called the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office and requested that he be taken into custody.

Deputies Brittany Mathewson and Alec Brockman were advised that Knapstein had last been seen in the King area driving a black 2016 Ford Fusion.

According to the criminal complaint, Mathewson was on County Trunk QQ in King when she noticed what appeared to be the suspect’s vehicle.

She made a U-turn and began following the vehicle.

Before Mathewson could pull the Fusion over, it accelerated, then turned left onto King Road, failing to stop at the stop sign.

Mathewson notified dispatch that the vehicle was going nearly 80 mph, eastbound on King Road. By the time it reached Pryse Drive, the vehicle was travelling 90 mph.

The vehicle braked, but did not stop at the red light on State Highway 22, then turned right on County QQ and headed back into King.

By this time, Brockman had joined the pursuit.

The vehicle turned east on West Fulton Street, then turned left on the U.S. Highway 10 westbound ramp.

After the deputies reported that the vehicle reached speeds of over 120 mph, Patrol Capt. Todd Rasmussen called off the pursuit.

Knapstein was identified as the driver from a bank security video and a drive-thru teller who needed his ID to cash a money order, the complaint says.

He is currently in custody on a probation hold.

On Feb. 21, 2018, Knapstein was convicted of forgery uttering as party to a crime and placed on three years of probation.