Four men from Florida were taken into custody on Friday, Nov. 13, after a high-speed pursuit that started in Chippewa County ended near Menomonie, according to the Dunn County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies were notified at about 4:48 p.m. that Lake Hallie police were pursuing a vehicle tied to a felony theft investigation westbound on Highway 312 toward Interstate 94. A Dunn County sergeant picked up the pursuit near Exit 59 on I-94 and followed the vehicle as it sped westbound into Dunn County, passing other motorists.

Deputies deployed a tire deflation device on I-94 near Menomonie. At about 5:01 p.m., the vehicle left the roadway on the westbound rest area exit ramp and became disabled in the ditch, and its four occupants ran north on foot into Menomonie.

The Sheriff's Office, Menomonie police and the Wisconsin State Patrol set up a perimeter, and the Dunn County Emergency Communications Center sent a CodeRED alert advising nearby residents to lock their homes and vehicles. Two sheriff's K-9 units tracked the men, while drone operators located four people in a field at about 5:41 p.m. and guided officers to them.

One man ran south across all four lanes of I-94 and was arrested by a State Patrol trooper near Wakanda Park. The other three were arrested in a field east of 22nd Avenue North.

The Sheriff's Office identified those arrested only by age and hometown: a 24-year-old from Lauderhill, Florida, a 23-year-old from Lake Worth, Florida, a 24-year-old from Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, and a 28-year-old from Pompano Beach, Florida. All four were transferred to the Chippewa County Jail, and their names were not released because the investigation is ongoing. Officials said there is no ongoing threat to the community. The allegations have not been proven in court.