GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) – Appleton police are releasing more information about a crime spree which began in Grand Chute and ended in Brown County Saturday evening.
In a statement Monday, police are referring a charge of strong arm robbery against 36-year-old Michael J. Lawrenz of Random Lake.
Lawrenz is currently being held in the Outagamie County Jail and is not expected in court Monday.
Officials say it all began at the Pawn America store in Grand Chute around 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Police were called to investigate a possible retail theft involving two men.
During a physical altercation, police say Lawrenz somehow got into a squad car and began to drive off.
“He did either back or somehow strike the vehicle that was driven by the supervisor from the Grand Chute Police Department who had arrived on scene,” Sgt. Dave Lund of the Appleton Police Department said. “That collision did cause injury to the supervisor.”
The officer’s injuries are non-life-threatening.
Multiple police officers fired at Lawrenz as continued to drive away. Lawrenz was hit by a bullet.
Authorities say Lawrenz drove into Appleton with the police lights on and stopped a vehicle in the 1500 block of W. Fourth Street. Lawrenz allegedly approached the vehicle and used physical force to remove a 35-year-old Appleton woman from her vehicle and drove off in it.
The woman was not hurt during the carjacking.
Brown County deputies located the woman’s stolen vehicle traveling northbound on I-41 and stopped the vehicle and took Lawrenz into custody.
Appleton Police say Lawrenz admitted to his criminal involvement during an interview with detectives.
The Appleton Police Department is investigating the incident as it involves the use of force by Grand Chute police officers. No word on the number of officers involved.
According to online court records, Lawrenz has multiple open cases in four Wisconsin counties for retail theft, bail jumping and traffic violations.
