By Lisa Pett

An Almond man facing armed robbery charges in Waushara County, who alsoled deputies on a high- speed chase through Southern Portage County, appeared in court via video feed on Tuesday.

Bruce Vossekuil is charged with fleeing police and recklessly endangering safety as well as operating while revoked. He was also issued at least ten traffic violations as a result of the chase.

Vossekuil, 34, spent more than a week hiding from law enforcement when he was finally captured after a chase reaching 100 miles per hour ended with Vossekuil’s escape.

According the the criminal complaint, on July 9 a witness called police after noticing a red or maroon car in a ditch near the intersection of Taft Rd. and Akron Ave. in the Town of Pine Grove. He said he saw “two men who looked like there were in a hurry to leave.” The witness gave dispatch a license plate number, which was registered to a blue Toyota.

While driving to the scene a Portage County Sheriff’s deputy spotted a maroon Pontiac with that license number being driven by a male with dark facial hair and beard.

The driver fled, turning down a driveway on Hwy D and exiting through another driveway. He blew through several stop signs as he drove towards the Waushara County line. Before reaching Hwy 73, the driver slowed down, jumped from the moving vehicle and disappeared into a field of corn.

A K-9 search of the field failed to turn up the suspect, later identified as Vossekuil and who was suspected in the Waushara County robbery. He managed remained hidden from police for eight days before finally being taken into custody.

Vossekuil pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor traffic charges and Judge Fredrick Fleishauer ordered a $1,000 cash bond. Vossekuil is already being held on a $25,000 cash bond in Waushara County. His next scheduled court date is September 28.