Woman Charged After Nearly 20 Mile Chase Around Racine County: Sheriff

RACINE, WI — An Illinois woman was charged Tuesday after authorities said she nearly caused a crash and led them on a chase that lasted nearly 20 miles across Racine County, according to a criminal complaint and online court records.

Deputies arrested 53-year-old Renee Spinks, who was charged with first-degree recklessly endangering safety, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, eluding police, criminal damage to property, possession of THC and resisting an officer, according to court records. If convicted, she could face over 25 years in prison.

On Sunday, deputies with the Racine County Sheriff's Office were alerted to a vehicle driving recklessly near State Highway 20 and Interstate 94. A deputy found the vehicle as it passed him to take the exit onto State Highway 11, but as the vehicle was passing, it cut off another driver and nearly caused a crash, according to the criminal complaint.

The deputy followed the vehicle off the highway and tried to pull it over. The vehicle drove away, west down State Highway 11, but after 4 miles, police ended the pursuit around 8:45 p.m. near Union Grove, according to the complaint. Deputies said they found the vehicle again on Highway 36 near Highway D, and started their pursuit again, the complaint said.

Deputies say the vehicle approached speeds up to 100 mph while running stop signs and red lights, according to the complaint. Authorities used spike strips to puncture its tires, but the vehicle continued, the complaint said.

The pursuit ended when the vehicle turned into someone's driveway in Burlington with deflated tires, the complaint said. The car then hit a sheriff's deputy's squad car before crashing into a tree, according to the criminal complaint.

A deputy found a handgun, a small bottle of alcohol, five full boxes of ammunition for the handgun and 61 loose bullets around the car, the complaint said.