Man gets jail for crime spree

Waukesha - A Waukesha man who led police on a high-speed chase last May in a stolen vehicle was sentenced Jan. 27 to four months in jail.

Bradley J. Peterson, 18, was ordered by Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Kathryn Foster to nine months in the work-release jail, but the judge stayed the last five months. Foster ordered Peterson to three years of probation following his time in jail.

Peterson entered guilty pleas to attempting to flee an officer and operating a motor vehicle without owner's consent, both felonies. Charges of obstructing an officer, possession of marijuana and criminal damage to property, were dismissed.

According to the criminal complaint:

On May 12 Peterson entered a garage at a Town of Waukesha residence where Peterson stole beer and a box containing electronics. He also stole an SUV from another Town of Waukesha residence. A report of a suspicious vehicle led to a Waukesha County Sheriff's Department deputy pursuing the SUV on Guthrie Road where the vehicle reached a speed of more than 100 mph.

The chase entered the City of Waukesha where Peterson did not stop at several stop signs or traffic signals. Peterson apparently tried to hide the vehicle at an apartment complex off Racine Avenue, but the deputy saw the vehicle, with its headlights off, backing up over shrubs and rocks and then accelerate quickly.

Police chased the SUV on Les Paul Parkway, Sunset Drive and other streets at speeds exceeding 70 mph and again Peterson drove through several red lights. The SUV eventually turned onto Lawnsdale Road where it went through a large mowed grassy area, and then onto Austin Court where the SUV went through a back yard and crashed into a tree.

Peterson fled on foot but was grabbed by police behind a residence on Springbrook North. Peterson was wearing a camouflage ski mask and gloves. Police found a bag containing marijuana in Peterson's pocket. The chase lasted 10.4 miles and properties on Austin Court, Red Oak Drive and Meadow View Court were damaged.