On Tuesday, September 25th, 2018 at 12:55am, a Fitchburg Police Officer observed a suspicious vehicle in the 5800 block of Dawley Drive. The officer observed the vehicle parked in the street and saw a male walking back towards the car from the lawn of one of the residences.
The officer discovered the vehicle had been reported stolen the previous day. When the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle then fled at a high rate of speed, to which the officer did not attempt to pursue it. Soon afterwards, a separate officer located the vehicle parked and abandoned in the parking lot of a nearby business. While checking on the car, the officer heard the suspects hiding in a wooded area directly behind the business.
The suspects initially refused to comply with officers’ verbal commands to exit the wooded area. It wasn’t until a Madison Police K9 unit responded that the suspects complied and were arrested without further resistance.
It was discovered that the stolen vehicle contained several expensive electronic items and garage door openers which are believed to have been recently stolen. If anyone in the Fitchburg area believes they are a recent victim of a burglary or theft from their vehicle, please contact the Fitchburg Police Department at (608)270-4300.
A 16 year old male was taken into custody for Operating a Motor Vehicle without Consent, Eluding, and Resisting and Obstructing an Officer. An 18 year old male, a 16 year old female, and a 15 year old male were each taken into custody for Operating a Motor Vehicle without Consent as passengers, and for Resisting and Obstructing an Officer. The 18 year old was also charged with one count of Bail Jumping.
The Fitchburg Police Department was assisted by the Madison Police K9 unit, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, and the Verona Police Department.
Arrested: Simpson, Donovan, age 18, of Madison, WI.
Charges: Operating a Motor Vehicle without Consent – Passenger, Resisting and Obstructing an Officer, and Bail Jumping.
Prepared by: Sgt. Andrew McCarthy
Case #: FP18-13250