A Cecil man that allegedly led law enforcement on a chase in May 2022 along state Highway 29 entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental illness June 21.
As a result, Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court Judge William Kussel Jr. ordered an evaluation of Aaron H. Renel, 41, in the hopes that the results will be available for a status conference Aug. 27.
Renel has been charged with felony count of fleeing and eluding an officer in a vehicle and second-degree recklessly endangering safety, along with a misdemeanor count of resisting or obstructing an officer.
According to the criminal complaint, the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department responded around 5:15 p.m. on May 8, 2022, to reports of a heavy truck-type military vehicle on the highway in western Shawano County travelling down the roadway with a flat tire, thus causing a traffic hazard.
Deputies located and attempted to stop the vehicle, but Renel allegedly led them on a short chase, coming to a stop in about a half-mile on the eastbound lane median of Highway 29 near County Road G in the Town of Seneca. The eastbound highway was shut down due to the incident.
Renel allegedly would not cooperate and would not exit the vehicle. Because of comments allegedly made by Renel and the conditions of this incident, the Shawano County Special Response Team responded to this scene, Sperberg said. Deputies, including trained negotiators, communicated with Renel for about four hours, and during this time, arrangements were made with the Shawano County Highway Department for the use of snowplows in case the driver tried to flee the scene.
About 9:30 p.m. Renel allegedly did just that, heading eastbound on Highway 29. Deputies tried to stop the suspect vehicle, using the snowplows in an attempt to perform a moving roadblock. The vehicle then crossed the median and began heading eastbound in the westbound lanes of the highway, according to Sperberg.
Renel allegedly came back to the eastbound lanes but then against crossed the median and was driving the wrong way down the highway. At one point, Renel allegedly drove into the median and a deputy operating a snowplow was able to pin the truck into the median, immobilizing it. Renel allegedly would not exit his vehicle and had to be removed with force. No serious injuries were reported to any law enforcement or this suspect, Sperberg said.
Renel is out on a $10,000 cash bond.
During his initial appearance May 9, 2022, Kussel ordered a competency evaluation. According to court records, Renel refused to appear for court for a status conference Aug. 31, 2022, when the evaluation showed he was not competent to stand trial at that time.
A second competency evaluation was requested in October 2022 by the public defenders’ office, and that evaluation showed he was not competent but could be restored to competency. A hearing in February 2023 confirmed he was competent to proceed in his own defense.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
Renel declares mental illness in vehicle chase
