Driver Arrested After High Speed Pursuit

• Case number: 15-00392
• Incident date: March 5, 2015, 2:20 am
• Incident type: Vehicle Pursuit
• Location/address: Monroe Street and Woodrow Street

On Thursday, March 5, the UW-Madison Police Department arrested Brent A. Tibbetts, 36, of Madison after a high speed pursuit through parts of Madison and Fitchburg.

At approximately 2:20 a.m., a UWPD officer was responding to a report of a truck swerving and running stoplights. The officer located the truck on Monroe Street at Woodrow Street and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver, Tibbetts, would not stop and took officers on a chase that lasted more than 20 minutes – at times, Tibbetts reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. Tibbetts’ truck left the roadway many times, traveled onto front yards, and came close to hitting several parked and moving vehicles.

With the help of a Dane County Sheriff’s deputy, officers successfully deployed road spikes, and the truck came to a stop on Whenona Drive at Warrick Way. Tibbetts exited the vehicle and ran – a UWPD officer apprehended him after a short foot chase.

Tibbetts was booked into the Dane County Jail on multiple charges, including resisting/obstructing an officer, knowingly fleeing an officer, second degree recklessly endangering safety, resisting arrest, speeding, and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Tibbetts also had a warrant for failure to appear in court regarding child support payments.

Tibbetts refused to submit to a breath test, so his blood alcohol level was not available.