5/8/23 St. Croix County Sheriff’s Deputy Killed by Suspected Drunken Driver
8 May 2023 News
A St. Croix County Sheriff’s Deputy was killed Saturday evening when a drunk driver asked to do field sobriety testing drew a gun on her and shot her. Deputy Kaitie Leising was 29-years-old. She had 3 years of law enforcement service. Leising was dispatched for a drunk driver in a ditch. When she arrived at the scene she encountered the driver of the vehicle in a ditch. Another vehicle had stopped to assist. When 34-year-old Jeremiah Johnson was asked to participate in field sobriety tests before returning to his vehicle he was evasive. After about 8 minutes of dialogue, Johnson turned toward Deputy Leising, drew a handgun and shot her. She discharged her weapon three times but none of the rounds hit Johnson before he fled into a nearby wooded area. Occupants of the assisting vehicle immediately began lifesaving measures on Deputy Leising who was taken to a local hospital where she died. Her encounter with Johnson was caught on her body camera. While law enforcement searched for Johnson in the woods an officer saw Johnson, heard a gunshot, and watched Johnson collapse to the ground. No officers discharged their weapon during that search. A handgun was recovered at the scene where Johnson was found dead. The state Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident. Once there investigation is complete they will turn over their reports to the St. Croix County District Attorney.
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