Madison Man Proceeds To Trial For Dodge County Chase

8/25/17 – A Madison man who ran from a Dodge County Sheriff’s Deputy will proceed to trial after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing. Sean Johnson is charged with a felony count of Fleeing an Officer and misdemeanor Obstruction. According to the criminal complaint, the 26-year-old was pulled over for erratic driving in the town of Emmet last December. When the officer approached the vehicle he smelled marijuana and noticed Johnson’s eyes were bloodshot. The deputy handcuffed Johnson and placed him in the back of his squad car to further investigate. Once there, Johnson repeatedly asked to use the bathroom. The deputy knew that back-up was close and said Johnson had been cooperative so he removed the constraints. That’s when Johnson allegedly took off running towards his car. The deputy tried to use his Taser gun but Johnson managed to get in his car and flee the scene. He drove close to a mile before crashing into a ditch. When asked why he ran, Johnson reportedly said that he thought he was going back to prison for violating his probation for a domestic abuse-related incident with his child’s mother. If convicted on both counts, Johnson faces over four years in prison.