BARRON COUNTY -- A Cumberland, WI man has plead guilty and been sentenced on his criminal charges of felony fleeing from law enforcement.
Erik Whiterabbit was charged in Barron County Circuit Court following a high speed pursuit in February 2018 that ended in a crash.
According to a press release from the Barron County Sheriff’s Department, on February 27, 2018, a Barron County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to stop a vehicle west of Cumberland. The vehicle did not stop but instead accelerated to speeds up to 100 miles per hour for a distance of approximately 1.5 miles before crashing.
Whiterabbit was identified as the driver of the vehicle and charged with Class I Felony Vehicle Operator Flee/Elude Officer and Misdemeanor Operate While Revoked.
At a hearing on August 16, 2018, Whiterabbit plead guilty to his charge of Class I Felony Vehicle Operator Flee/Elude Officer. The charge of Misdemeanor Operate While Revoked was dismissed but read in.
The Court ordered a withheld sentence for Whiterabbit, with 2 years of probation. Conditions of Whiterabbit’s probation will require him to maintain absolute sobriety, and complete any and all evaluations, counseling, treatment and follow-up recommended by his probation agent.
A passenger in the vehicle, Angela Squier, was also charged with Class I Felony Possession of Methamphetamine and Class I Felony Vehicle Operator Flee/Elude Officer (Party to a Crime). Online circuit court records show that Squier’s charges from this incident were dismissed but read in by the court within a plea negotiation deal that was reached on her multiple criminal court cases in Barron County Circuit Court. Squier is scheduled to be sentenced later this week on her remaining criminal charges stemming from other incidents.
**Previous Post**
High-Speed Pursuit in Barron County Ends in Crash; Two Arrested
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 | Press Release
On February 27, 2018 at 10:08pm a Barron County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle on 2nd Street near 25 ¾ Ave west of Cumberland. The vehicle failed to stop for the deputy and a short chase took place (about 1.5 miles) with speeds reaching over 100 miles per hour.
As the vehicle came up to the T-intersection of Hwy 48 and 2nd Street the vehicle failed to make the turn and crashed into a snowbank ending the chase. The driver and passenger were taken into custody at gunpoint without further incident.
The driver of the vehicle Erik Whiterabbit, 27 of Cumberland, is being held in the Barron County Jail on charges of Fleeing an Officer, Operating While Revoked and a probation violation.
The passenger Angela Squier, 40 of Luck, is being held in the Barron County Jail on charges of Bail Jumping, Possession of Meth and a Barron County Warrant. Squier had to be treated at Mayo Hospital for a complaint of shoulder pain from the crash.
Special thanks to the Cumberland Police Department for their assistance with this incident.
Per Chris Fitzgerald, Barron County Sheriff
Last Update: Aug 21, 2018 12:50 pm CDT
