Man who led police on high-speed chase placed on probation, must pay fines

CHIPPEWA FALLS — A Chippewa Falls man who led Lake Hallie police on a high-speed chase in February 2022 before crashing the vehicle in Chippewa Falls has been placed on five years of probation.

Daniel L. Nielsen, 41, 822 Veronica St., was convicted Tuesday in Chippewa County Court of fleeing or eluding a police officer and second-degree recklessly endangering safety. Other charges were dismissed.

Judge Steve Gibbs ordered five years of probation, and he ordered Nielsen to pay $1,930 in fines and restitution. While on probation, Nielsen cannot drink alcohol or enter taverns.

Lake Hallie Police Chief Edward Orgon said the chase began at 12:16 a.m. Feb. 24, 2022, when a Lake Hallie officer saw a vehicle driving with no tail lights activated. When the officer attempted to stop the SUV, it sped up and traveled south on Business 53. It later turned north on Highway 53 and entered Chippewa Falls, where officers had deployed spike strips, which stopped the vehicle.

When officers went to apprehend Nielsen, he grabbed a 41-year-old woman in the vehicle by the throat and stated he had a knife. He eventually let the woman go and was taken into custody, Orgon said.

Court records show that Nielsen was convicted of fleeing or eluding an officer, bail jumping and taking a vehicle without consent in Washington County Court in 2011 and was ordered to serve three years in prison and four years of extended supervision. Nielsen also was convicted of taking a vehicle without consent in Washington County in 2009, and of theft in Waukesha County in 2004.

Nielsen failed to show up for a court appearance in April 2023 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was finally arrested Oct. 12, 2023. However, he was not charged on that matter.