For the Gazette
STEVENS POINT – On Feb. 6 around 8:30 p.m., a Stevens Point police officer attempted to stop a vehicle that had failed to stop for a stop sign and nearly struck a marked police squad.

The suspect vehicle did not stop for the officer and fled in their vehicle and shut off all running lights. Officers did not pursue with lights and sirens but were able to follow the suspect by the suspect’s tire tracks in the fresh snow. Officers located the suspect vehicle several more times and each time the vehicle fled.

Finally, the officers located the suspect vehicle hiding behind a business where the officers attempted to make contact with the suspect vehicle as they approached on foot. As they did this the suspect vehicle began to flee again and struck an officer with their driver’s side mirror.

Officers pursued the suspect vehicle and performed a pursuit intervention technique, disabling the vehicle in a snowbank where the suspect was taken into custody without incident.

The suspect is identified as 17-year-old Owen T. Gross, who is being charged with OWI (drugs), possession of hallucinogenic drugs, battery to Law Enforcement, fleeing an officer, and other traffic violations.