Local News
More On Chase And Death Near Holmen
On June 13that approximately 1:10am, La Crosse Police Officer Matt Geenen observed a suspicious vehicle in the area of 7th and La Crosse St. Officer Geenen ran the registration plate of this vehicle and learned that on June 12, 2014, Grant County Sheriff’s Department had issued a Missing and Endangered Person for the registered owner of this vehicle. The officer’s squad computer alerted him that the vehicle and the 79 year old taxi driver were Missing and Endangered from Platteville, WI.
Officer Geenen noted the driver did not match the description of the Endangered/Missing Person and attempted to stop this vehicle at 2nd and La Crosse St. The driver fled from Officer Geenen northbound onto Copeland Ave. The pursuit continued northbound through La Crosse and continued into and through Onalaska on Hwy 35. As the pursuit continued towards Holmen, WI the driver of the fleeing vehicle was involved in a crash with another vehicle and left the road and rolled over. The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody by Officers.
Officers discovered an elderly male victim in the trunk of the vehicle and began life saving measures. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. Officer’s observed what appeared to be injuries consistent with the victim being assaulted prior to the crash.
The La Crosse Police Department, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, Grant County Sheriff’s Department, Platteville Police Department, WI State Patrol, the La Crosse County District Attorney’s Office and the La Crosse County Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating this incident as a homicide.
An autopsy is scheduled today for the victim.
The identification of the victim is being withheld at this time pending notifications.
This is an ongoing investigation involving multiple agencies and no further information will be released at this time.
The male suspect is in custody pending criminal charges and is identified as:
Timmy Lansing Johnson Jr. of Lancaster, WI
