By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Kruger faces 12 felony charges for Sept. 10 chase
Attempted homicide, robbery, kidnapping, car theft counts pending in Grant, Iowa counties
Placeholder Image

The man who led law enforcement officers from four different counties on a high-speed chase and search Sept. 10 is facing 12 felony charges and several other charges.

The first charge against James M. Kruger, 36, Madison, is a City of Platteville citation for fleeing or eluding an officer, after Kruger evaded a Platteville police officer after he drove the wrong way on Fourth Street before 4 a.m.

Kruger is scheduled to have an appearance on that citation in Grant County Circuit Court in Lancaster Oct. 7 — the same day scheduled for a status conference to appear in Dane County Circuit Court in Madison on a felony charge of fleeing or eluding an officer.

Grant County felony charges of attempted homicide, robbery, felon possession of a firearm, kidnapping and recklessly endangering safety as well as a charge of criminal damage to property — which can be a felony or misdemeanor depending on the amount of damage — are pending.

Also pending are seven Iowa County felony charges — knowingly fleeing an officer, reckless endangerment, operating a motor vehicle without owner consent, felon possession of a firearm, theft, false imprisonment, bomb scare, carrying a concealed weapon and operating while intoxicated (drugs).

Kruger also faces four Iowa County traffic charges — driving the wrong way on a divided highway, failure to stop at a stop sign, reckless driving and first-offense operating with a restricted controlled substance.

Iowa County Circuit Judge William Dyke set bond at $500,000 cash Wednesday, Kruger is scheduled to appear in Iowa County Circuit Court in Dodgeville Oct. 8 at 9 a.m.

Kruger led law enforcement officers from four different counties on an extended search and high speed chase Sept. 10, initially in connection with a stabbing in Madison Sept. 9.

Kruger was out on a $500 signature bond on the Dane County felony eluding charge. Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said Kruger should have never been out, putting blame on an assistant district attorney who handled Kruger’s Sept. 4 court appearance.

Ozanne said the assistant district attorney had thought Kruger would be held on a probation violation, but that Kruger’s probation ended in August.

Kruger was placed on 18 months probation in February 2012 after he pleaded no contest to two counts of disorderly conduct with use of a dangerous weapon in Dane County.

Kruger was sentenced to seven years probation in La Crosse County in 2003 after he was found guilty of false imprisonment, disorderly conduct, resisting or obstructing an officer, and two counts each of battery, criminal damage to property and misdemeanor bail jumping.

Update: Kruger was indicted Wednesday on a federal charge of felon possession of firearms in U.S. District Court in Madison. Kruger faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison if convicted.