A 47-year-old woman allegedly led Wisconsin State Patrol on a reckless 125 mph chase that left one trooper seriously injured, before making a baffling declaration to officers that she had not hit anybody. Martell Tolbert Mitchell was charged following the incident on I-94 in Eau Claire County, where Trooper Brad Ritger was found severely injured on the road below an overpass after deploying spike strips to stop Mitchell’s vehicle.
Background
The pursuit began when the Illinois State Patrol notified Wisconsin authorities that a driver, later identified as Mitchell, had fled a traffic stop. When Wisconsin troopers spotted Mitchell’s vehicle in Eau Claire County and attempted to initiate a stop, she allegedly accelerated to speeds exceeding 100 mph. In a construction zone with a 60 mph limit, troopers observed Mitchell traveling at 76 mph before she sped up further upon being pursued. According to the criminal complaint, a trooper’s speedometer read 125 mph as Mitchell passed him.
To end the dangerous chase, police closed down I-94 and Trooper Brad Ritger deployed spike strips on an overpass. The strips successfully stopped Mitchell’s vehicle, which came to rest in a ditch, leading to her immediate arrest. However, officers lost contact with Ritger and eventually found him severely injured on the road below the overpass where he had been working. He was revived at the scene and transported to a hospital. Authorities have not yet determined how Ritger fell from the overpass.
The Charges
Mitchell faces charges of eluding or fleeing an officer in a vehicle and recklessly endangering safety. During her arrest, she allegedly made unsolicited comments stating she "did not hit anybody" and claimed that if law enforcement was injured, it was not her fault because "that was their job." Police recovered cocaine and THC, along with packaging materials and a digital scale, from her possession. Consequently, she was also charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of THC with intent to distribute. Notably, Mitchell was not charged in connection with Trooper Ritger’s specific injuries.
Key Takeaways
- Martell Tolbert Mitchell allegedly fled police at speeds up to 125 mph in Wisconsin.
- Trooper Brad Ritger was seriously injured after falling from an overpass while deploying spike strips.
- Mitchell told officers she did not hit anybody and blamed the trooper's injury on his job duties.
- Charges include eluding, reckless endangerment, and possession with intent to distribute for cocaine and THC.
- Mitchell did not appear on the Dunn County Jail inmate roster on Thursday.
What's Next
Mitchell’s next court date is scheduled for September 28. Investigators continue to determine the circumstances surrounding Trooper Ritger’s fall from the overpass, while legal proceedings regarding Mitchell’s charges move forward in the Wisconsin court system.