Manawa woman returns to jail on new charges
Amanda S. Ricketts, 34, Manawa, is charged with fleeing an officer and one count each of felony and misdemeanor bail jumping.
According to the criminal complaint, Waupaca County Deputy Nick Booth clocked a black vehicle going 73 mph in a 55 mph speed zone shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22.
The vehicle was traveling south on State Highway 49 in the town of Harrison. A female driver was the vehicle’s sole occupant.
The driver turned east on County Trunk C and Booth began following her with his emergency lights and siren activated.
Booth reported the pursuit to dispatch and noted that the driver was talking on the phone.
When the vehicle slowed to turn south on County Trunk J, a white SUV stopped at the intersection, two men exited the SUV and began yelling.
The black vehicle continued driving south on County J with Booth following.
In an attempt to persuade the driver to stop, Booth pulled up in the lane beside the vehicle. However, it swerved across the center line and Booth pulled back and continued following it.
As it went around a curve, the black vehicle nearly struck an oncoming vehicle, according to the complaint.
Chase ends
At this point, Booth’s commanding officer told him to stop the pursuit. He pulled over and deactivated his emergency lights and siren, while the black vehicle continued south on County J.
A short time later, the white SUV that Booth saw earlier pulled up beside the squad car.
The occupants identified themselves and told Booth that the driver of the black vehicle was Ricketts and accused her of taking the car without permission.
One of the men was on the phone with Ricketts and said she was trying to arrange a place to leave the car for him to pick it up.
He put the phone on speaker. When Booth tried talking with her, Ricketts allegedly swore at him and disconnected the call.
The black vehicle was later found abandoned in a front yard in Manawa.
She is currently in custody on a $2,500 cash bond.
In addition to her criminal charges, Ricketts has also been cited for operating while suspended, reckless driving, operating left of center, speeding and failure to use a turn signal.
At the time of the Aug. 22 incident, Ricketts was out and about after posting a $2,000 cash bond.
On July 5, Ricketts was charged with two counts of battery to an officer, felony spitting at an officer, obstructing an officer, disorderly conduct, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
She is accused of biting, spitting and kicking Waupaca police officers as they took her into custody at a bar.