(Juneau) A Fond du Lac man convicted of assaulting a Dodge County jailer he had taken hostage while awaiting robbery and fleeing charges was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison. Travis Bruemmer entered no contest pleas in January to felony charges of False Imprisonment, Battery By Prisoner, Second Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, Intimidating a Victim and Intimidating a Witness.
It all started in May of 2021 when Bruemmer first raised suspicions by asking Lomira residents for cigarettes, and gas for his motorcycle. Shortly after, sheriff’s deputies were called to a robbery complaint in Leroy after a homeowner reported his gas stolen by a suspect later identified as Bruemmer. A subsequent pursuit racked up several traffic violations, ending when Bruemmer crashed his cycle and was arrested by Fond du Lac authorities.
During a medical check in the Dodge County Jail, Bruemmer stepped behind a staffer, placed his arm around her neck, and held her right arm behind her back. The staffer was able to press her panic alarm but was unable to break free. Bruemmer then told her to give him her keys and began squeezing her neck even harder. Several correctional officers rushed to free the staffer but by that time she had lost consciousness. A taser was used to subdue Bruemmer who was restrained while guards removed the staffer from his chokehold.
In addition to 15 years in prison, Bruemmer was sentenced to 19 years of extended supervision following his release.
