A roughly six hour search for the suspect accused of leading Waukesha County authorities on a chase with a stolen car ended when he was found hiding in a shed Monday morning.
According to the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department, two 17-year old suspects led deputies on a chase using a stolen vehicle. It began around 1:30 a.m. near I-94 and State Highway 83.
Deputies successfully used stop sticks to slow the car down. Eventually, the two suspects ditched the vehicle and ran off on foot.
One suspect, a female, was quickly taken into custody. But the second suspect hid out in a neighborhood near Bluemound Rd. and Pewaukee Rd. for several hours.
According to the sheriff's department, both subjects are from Illinois.
The vehicle was stolen from Illinois and, according to authorities there, contained a firearm.
But Jennifer Wallschlaeger, Administrative Deputy for the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department, said no gun was found in the vehicle.
Authorities sent out a reverse 911 call to residents in the area, alerting them to the potential threat and urging them to lock their doors and report any suspicious activity.
"That allows us to notify the community of the certain area we were looking at, where we were searching," Wallschlaeger said.
Eventually, tips from callers around 5:00 a.m. helped deputies identify the general area where the suspect was hiding, Wallschlaeger said.
Deputies, with help from Waukesha Police and the Wisconsin State Patrol, set up a perimeter around a wooded area on Pewaukee Rd. just south of I-94.
They could be seen searching the area with firearms drawn.
A K9 was also used in the search.
Eventually, they located the second suspect hiding in a shed behind a home on Pewaukee Rd. and Sherwood Dr.
"It's kind of nerve wracking," said Kelly Drzewiecki, the shed's owner. "This is a pretty quiet neighborhood. We don't get this type of stuff here, ever."
He added the shed is pretty cramped and full of items his family stores for months on end, like Christmas decorations.
"Some things were moved around, probably so he could hide a little bit," Drzewiecki added.
Wallschlaeger said the community is fortunate no one was hurt.
"We're very lucky," she said. "We didn't know the history or the background of this subject."
The two teens are currently in custody at the Waukesha County Jail.
