Negotiations possible in case that saw woman flee officers

EAU CLAIRE — One of two people charged after police said they repeatedly fled attempts to arrest them was in court Tuesday for an early hearing.

Racquel Krueger, 35, Altoona, is charged with second degree recklessly endangering safety, attempting to flee or elude officers, three counts of bail jumping and two counts of obstructing an officer. The case was filed last month.

In one of the incidents, the criminal complaint says Krueger drove off after an officer attempted to bring her in on open warrants, nearly hitting the officer in the process. In another, she was a passenger hiding in a stolen vehicle that attempted to drive away. It was the latter incident that led to her arrest, along with Domanick Abrams, after their vehicle was immobilized.

Tuesday’s hearing came early in proceedings. Krueger has not yet had an arraignment, thus has not entered a plea, but there are signs of behind the scenes negotiations. Online court records said the court was told “no agreement has been reached,” suggesting a negotiated agreement is at least an option prosecutors and the defense are willing to entertain.

While that is all standard, there is a less common element in the case. Krueger sent the court a letter directly earlier in July. Such direct communication poses a couple issues.

First, defense attorneys are justifiably wary of any attempt at communication with officials by their clients without them being present. The second is that such communications create a potential breach of the rules regarding open courts.

Communications with one party involved in a case, be it civil or criminal are ex parte when they take place without the other party’s involvement. That’s the case here, and it’s noted in the court file. It also made Krueger’s letter a public document.

Krueger told the court she first tried meth in 2018 and “haven’t been sober since.” she asked the court for help in accessing treatment.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 10.