Neopit man arrested after high-speed pursuit in Oneida County

RHINELANDER – The report of a two-vehicle accident on Hwy. 17 at Chick-A-Dee Peek Rd. northeast of Rhinelander on Monday, Nov. 4 led to a high-speed pursuit involving Oneida County deputies.

The chase led to Rhinelander schools being placed on administrative lockdown.a

According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, a caller stated the driver of a vehicle stuck the caller’s vehicle while attempting to pass in a no-passing zone. Once the vehicles pulled over, the striking vehicle reportedly hit the caller again, with the caller indicating the driver of the striking vehicle was attempting to start an altercation.

The driver of the striking vehicle was later identified by the Sheriff’s Office as Daniel Thunder, 51 of Neopit.

Oneida County deputies responded and observed Thunder’s vehicle leaving the accident scene. When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, Thunder accelerated, and a pursuit was initiated.

The Sheriff’s Office said Thunder committed several traffic offenses, including reaching speeds of over 100 MPH while continuing to travel south on Hwy 17 N. Thunder then turned onto Stevens St. and continued into the City of Rhinelander at a high rate of speed. Thunder also failed to stop for stop signs and traffic signals, operated in the oncoming lane of travel and passed on the right. 

Thunder turned onto Oneida Ave. and then onto U.S. Hwy. 8 west, where, a short distance later, an Oneida County deputy successfully performed a pursuit intervention technique. However, Thunder drove out of the ditch and continued west on Hwy. 8. 

Thunder continued east on Kemp St. and turned north on Oneida Ave. He continued to Frederick St., then onto Baird Ave., then east on Timber Dr. Thunder went east on Timber Dr., and as he crossed Hwy. 17, an Oneida County deputy rammed his vehicle.

Thunder continued down County Hwy. C. He then drove north onto the east end of Camp Brynn Afron Rd. Thunder then turned down a logging road and was taken into custody without incident.

Thunder is facing more than two dozen charges related to the incident, including resisting or obstructing, criminal damage to property, flee/elude officer, second degree recklessly endangering safety, physical abuse of elder person – intentionally cause bodily harm, hit and run, drive vehicle without consent, all with repeater modifiers; operating while intoxicated; disorderly conduct-use of a motor vehicle; improper parking/standing of a vehicle; and multiple speeding charges.

Thunder is scheduled to appear in Oneida County court on Monday, Dec. 2.

The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Rhinelander Police Department during the pursuit.