Columbia County Deputy Pepper Sprayed During Traffic Stop

(Town of Westpoint) A Columbia County Sheriff’s deputy was pepper sprayed during a traffic stop Monday morning. The incident happened around 12:15am on State Highway 60 at O’Connor Road in the Town of Westpoint. Sheriff Roger Brandner says the suspect was speeding when he was pulled over. The substance sprayed into the deputies eyes and face is believed to be Oleoresin Capsicum (OC). The suspect fled and the deputy was unable to pursue him because of impaired vision.

The pickup, which was reportedly stolen just prior to the traffic stop, was found abandoned in the Westpoint subdivision of Sellwood and the suspect was last seen walking through yards in the subdivision, west toward Lake Wisconsin. He is described as a white male, between 20-and-30-years-old with dark-colored hair, scruffy facial hair, wearing a black t-shirt and holding a red sweatshirt.

Sheriff Brandner is asking the public’s help in identifying the suspect and is hoping someone may have video footage from a home camera or other information that would be helpful in their investigation. Citizens are asked to contact the Columbia County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-293-8477, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at 608-742-4166 or submit a tip on their Facebook page.