APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – A total of fourteen charges were filed Tuesday against the suspect accused of stealing a Grand Chute police car, carjacking another vehicle and leading police on a high-speed chase.
36-year-old Michael Lawrenz is facing counts of robbery, criminal damage, taking a car without consent, resisting arrest and bail jumping.
The crime spree occurred around 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Pawn America in Grand Chute. Police were investigating a possible retail theft involving two men.
During a physical altercation, Lawrenz somehow got into a police car, containing a K9 officer, on scene and started to drive away, police say.
Police opened fire on Lawrenz as continued to drive away. Officials say Lawrenz was hit by a bullet.
Two Grand Chute officers who discharged their weapons during the incident have been identified as Benjamin Hanson, a 2-year veteran and James Shepard, who has been with the department for 7 months.
Authorities say Lawrenz drove the K9 squad car into the city of 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.
