After chase along south side, La Crosse police arrest 37-year-old on slew of charges, including possession of loaded gun

A police chase around the south side of La Crosse, where the alleged culprit had four flat tires, ended with arrest on Wednesday night.

Police recognized Joshua Kletzke parked at a south side Kwik Trip around 7 p.m. The 37-year-old was a subject in a Campbell Police investigation, had a felony probation warrant for his arrest, and that he was armed, police stated.

They also knew Kletzke had a tendency to flee. With that, police deployed spike strips behind his rear tires while he was parked. While police approached, Kletzke put his vehicle in reverse, popping all four tires, and took off northbound on Mormon Coulee Road.

Several times police used tactics to stop the vehicle but said said due to conditions, they were unsuccessful.

Kletzke then drove down 16th Street and the pursuit ended at Farnam Street, where the 37-year-old essentially locked himself in the vehicle.

Officers shot, what the statement called a “less lethal bean bag round ” through the rear window, and eventually took Kletzke into custody without injury.

Upon searching Kletzke’s vehicle, police found a loaded .357 revolver next to the driver’s seat, as well as fentanyl and marijuana.

Kletzke is in county jail with a list of charges:

Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Possession of THC (Second Offense)
Felony Fleeing/Eluding an Officer
Possession of Narcotic Drugs
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Maintaining Drug Trafficking Plate
Felony Probation Warrant
Vehicle Operator Flee/Elude an Officer)
Operator Violating Red Traffic Light
Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign
Hit and Run, Property Adjacent to Highway