Police: Flip-Flop Wearing Franksville Man Flees Traffic Stop

A 23-year-old Franksville man is accused of trying to flee from Caledonia police officers during a traffic stop.

Joseph Mark Wise was charged in Racine County Circuit Court Tuesday with one count of obstructing an officer and two counts of felony bail jumping. If convicted, he faces up to nearly seven years in prison and $30,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

At 1:57 p.m. Monday, a Caledonia police officer was headed westbound on Highway G west of Highway V, when he spotted Wise driving eastbound doing 67 miles per hour in a 45 miles per hour speed zone. The officer turned around and initiated a traffic stop, so the car turned right on V, then pulled into the first driveway. There was movement in the car and Wise was now sitting in the middle rear seat and a woman was in the driver seat.

Wise admitted to driving saying he didn’t have a driver’s license and then gave a different name claiming to be from Tomah. When ordered out of the car, Wise fled on foot behind area homes. The officer chased Wise, who lost his flip flops and was then running barefoot up a long driveway.

An officer spoke to the owner of a home at the end of the driveway, then saw Wise emerge from another door of the home and continue running towards V, where another squad pulled up and a police officer ordered Wise to the ground at gunpoint.

Wise will make his initial appearance in court Wednesday.