(Mayville) A Fond du Lac man accused of running from Mayville police is heading to trial. Evan Clark waived his right to a preliminary hearing this week and was immediately bound over for arraignment. The 24-year-old entered a not guilty plea to a felony count of Fleeing and a misdemeanor charge of Resisting.
Clark was pulled over in April after allegedly passing a semi-truck and a squad car while speeding in a no passing zone on Highway 28. He initially pulled over, telling the officer it was the “second time [he was] stopped” that day. The suspect was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt and had dried blood on his cheek and fingertips, bloodshot eyes and pinpoint pupils with slow and deliberate speech. An orange hypodermic needle, and bloody napkins were in his lap, according to the complaint.
The needle, which later tested positive for cocaine, was secured by the officer but the suspect refused to hand over his keys. The officer opened the driver’s side door and attempted to wrestle the keys from him, but Clark allegedly resisted. He blocked the officer with his arms before putting the keys in the ignition and speeding away in a manner described as “negligent.” He drove through backyards on Breckenridge Street, where he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Clark was located a short time later near the Rock River.
He refused commands at gunpoint to surrender, jumped into the frigid water and began swimming. After less than one minute, he came back to shore saying (quote) “I’m done” and was taken into custody without further incident.
If convicted, the felony Fleeing charge carries a maximum sentence of three-and-a-half years in prison.
