SHAWANO COUNTY (NBC 26) — A Shawano County veteran is facing charges following a road incident involving a military vehicle.
The Shawano County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to reports of a military vehicle on Highway 29 in western Shawano County around 5:15 p.m. Sunday, driving down the highway with a flat tire. According to a charging document, the vehicle was heavily angled due to the middle rear tire being down and the driver's front tire completely missing while traveling about 25 to 30 miles per hour.
Authorities later determined it was a historic vehicle owned by a private citizen, who was identified as Aaron Renel. The criminal complaint filed Monday described the vehicle as a green camouflaged M35 Deuce.
An officer noted in the criminal complaint that Renel was a veteran with PTSD.
Deputies attempted a traffic stop, but the sheriff's office said the driver led them on a short chase, ending near Highway G in the town of Seneca. Eastbound Highway 29 was shut down for a time during the incident.
The sheriff's office said the driver refused to leave the vehicle and the Shawano County Special Response Team responded. Negotiators communicated with the driver for about four hours.
(Video above courtesy of Sonny Crow)
During conversations with officers, the criminal complaint said Renel made statements about "satellites that are following him" and he had "psychic conversations" with police dispatch.
At about 9:30 p.m., the sheriff's office said Renel tried to flee again. Deputies used snowplow trucks to block the road. Eventually, the sheriff's office said officers were able to pin the truck using the snowplows.
Officers used force to remove Renel from the truck. The criminal complaint said officers used tasers, but they were ineffective. Renel was also pepper-sprayed, according to the complaint. Authorities in the complaint said Renel was pulled from the vehicle, handcuffed and searched. He was first taken to the hospital and, once medically cleared, taken to county jail.
Renel has been charged with attempting to flee or elude an officer, resisting an officer and second-degree recklessly endangering safety. He made his first court appearance Monday.
