Incident occurred four years ago
A man who left Wisconsin after allegedly fleeing an officer twice in a year is now in prison and facing charges.
Joshua P. Smith, 32, Dodge Correctional Institute, was charged Aug. 7 with fleeing an officer, resisting an officer and possession of narcotics.
On Feb. 13, 2016. Waupaca County Deputy Bryan Strobusch clocked a vehicle traveling 75 mph on U.S. Highway 10 near Weyauwega.
Strobusch activated his squad car’s emergency lights in order to make a traffic stop.
The vehicle continued onto County Trunk X, then onto Main Street, allegedly blowing past stop signs as it went through Weyauwega.
According to the criminal complaint, the vehicle turned onto Lincoln Street, then reached speeds of 85 mph while on Evanswood Road.
After it turned onto Marsh Road, the vehicle went into a ditch.
Strobush saw somebody run from the vehicle and into the woods.
Weyauwega Police Cpl. Adam Rogge arrived at the scene to assist.
They could hear rustling in the woods and ordered the person to come out.
Cassandra L. Stearns, 28, formerly of Wild Rose, exited the woods.
Strobusch reported Stearns initially said she had been driving and that she was alone.
After transporting Stearns to the county jail, Strobusch returned to the vehicle where he found a second set of footprints in the snow.
He followed the prints and found a black and red flat brim hat about 50 yards from the vehicle.
With assistance from other officers and Weyauwega firefighters, Strobusch followed the footprints to a snowmobile trail, but was unable to find a second person.
The vehicle was registered to Smith.
Strobusch reported finding on Smith’s Facebook page two photos of a hat identical to the one he found in the snow.
On Feb. 14, 2016, Stearns told Strobusch she had been a passenger in the car and not the driver.
She reportedly said Smith had been the driver.
Stearns charged
On Feb. 15, 2016, Stearns was charged with fleeing an officer, obstructing an officer, illegal possession of a prescription drug and possession of drug paraphernalia as party to a crime.
She was released from custody on a $2,000 signature bond.
On March 8, 2016, Stearns failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for her arrest. The warrant is still active.
After the 2016 incident, Smith reportedly fled the state.
He was extradited and returned to Wisconsin at the beginning of 2020.
Earlier incident
On March 29, 2015, Smith was involved in a 50-mile high-speed chase that ended in a crash on U.S. Highway 45, near Bear Creek.
Strobusch was the arresting officer in the 2015 case.
Smith was convicted of fleeing an officer and placed on three years of probation.
After he was returned to Wisconsin, Smith was sentenced to state prison for violating his probation.