August 25, 2022 – Dodge Co., WI – At 6:56 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, a Dodge County Sheriff’s Office sergeant conducted a traffic stop on US Highway 151 near Redwood Road in the town of Trenton, Dodge County, Wisconsin.
As the sergeant was conducting his traffic stop, the driver lied to him about her identity. The driver, later identified as Autumn Gernon, 42, of Mazomanie, Wisconsin, fled from the traffic stop in her vehicle.
She traveled north to County Highway M, struck the sergeant’s squad car after losing control, and then crashed on Milligan Road in a cornfield. Gernon fled on foot into the cornfield and was not able to be located that evening. A K9 and drone were deployed, but due to the difficulties of tracking a subject in a cornfield, she was unable to be taken into custody at that time.
During the afternoon hours of Wednesday, August 24, 2022 a female matching the description of Gernon was seen in the Waupun area, however, after an extensive search, she was unable to be located. A notice was given to the community in regard to this subject via the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office App and social media.
At 3:53 AM on Thursday, August 25, 2022 a report of a female yelling for help was received at Landall’s trailer park, 916 S. Madison Street in the city of Waupun. The female was identified as Autumn Gernon and she was taken into custody.
Multiple charges will be forwarded to the Dodge County District Attorney’s Office in this case, including a felony charge for fleeing/eluding a law enforcement officer.
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Waupun Police Department, Beaver Dam Police Department, and Wisconsin State Patrol in this incident. A reminder that all persons are innocent until proven guilty in court.
On a side note: A check of the Wisconsin Circuit Court System shows 17 entries for Autumn Gernon. Several reference felony charges for drug possession. In one felony instance the bail/bond was set at $250 and Gernon failed to show for her court appearance. Another case included three counts of felony bail jumping.
POLLING QUESTION: Is this a law enforcement issue or is a review of the court system needed regarding low bail and sentencing?
