MONROE - Green County Sheriff's deputies are not criminally liable and followed proper police procedure during the April 5, high-speed pursuit of an armed-robbery suspect, who fatally crashed his minivan near Juda.
That's according to the office of Dane County District Attorney Ismael R. Ozanne, one of two outside agencies that reviewed the incident, which ended when 26-year-old Jonathan E. Guadarrama swerved to avoid stop strips placed by police on Wisconsin 11/81, rolled the van, and was ejected.
A 9 mm handgun was found among the debris after the crash, just east of Bagley Road, authorities said.
"We requested that the (Green County) District Attorney review the case for criminal exposure with our staff that was involved," Green County Sheriff Jeff Skatrud said, adding that the action was taken to avoid conflict of interest. The office of the Dane County District Attorney issued its findings Thursday, after reviewing the pursuit, which began just after 11 a.m. in downtown Monroe. That's where Guadarrama and two other suspects from Beloit were allegedly trying to rob El Borrego, a Mexican grocery store on 16th Avenue on the Square.
The other two suspects, Luis E. Cruz, 30, and Luis E. Western, 35, were apprehended in Monroe without incident and face multiple felonies for their role in the alleged crime.
Rock County Sherriff's department officials also conducted an administrative review of the pursuit, "apart from the criminal investigation," in which they concluded that "deputies followed department policies and procedures and adhered to their training." Along with Green County deputies, the Wisconsin State Patrol Technical Reconstruction Unit also was found to "have conducted a very thorough, objective investigation into the incident" and that "no criminal liability" is warranted.
"(The review was done) with a fresh, independent set of eyes," Skatrud said on Thursday.
Sheriff's deputies, along with Monroe officers, began their chase after a reported armed robbery in progress at the First National Bank downtown, where the suspects allegedly were trying to get the victim from the nearby store to cash a check. Quick-thinking bank employees suspected foul play and called police.
Guadarrama then fled Monroe in the van. He was being pursued by a marked squad east of Brodhead when another deputy placed the stop sticks in front of the van. Trying to avoid them, the suspect "swerved sharply off the shoulder of the highway, losing control of the vehicle, and overturned several times," Ozanne's statement said.
Guadarrama, who was not wearing a safety belt, died at the scene of the crash.
Charges against Cruz, 30, include: Substantial battery with intent to cause bodily harm, a Class I Felony; two counts of armed battery, both Class C felonies; theft of moveable property, a Class I felony; and false imprisonment, a Class H felony.
Western, 35, is charged with substantial battery with intent to cause bodily harm, a Class I Felony; Two counts of armed battery, both Class C felonies; and false imprisonment, a Class H felony.
Both are scheduled to appear in court again at 8:30 a.m. on July 5.
That's according to the office of Dane County District Attorney Ismael R. Ozanne, one of two outside agencies that reviewed the incident, which ended when 26-year-old Jonathan E. Guadarrama swerved to avoid stop strips placed by police on Wisconsin 11/81, rolled the van, and was ejected.
A 9 mm handgun was found among the debris after the crash, just east of Bagley Road, authorities said.
"We requested that the (Green County) District Attorney review the case for criminal exposure with our staff that was involved," Green County Sheriff Jeff Skatrud said, adding that the action was taken to avoid conflict of interest. The office of the Dane County District Attorney issued its findings Thursday, after reviewing the pursuit, which began just after 11 a.m. in downtown Monroe. That's where Guadarrama and two other suspects from Beloit were allegedly trying to rob El Borrego, a Mexican grocery store on 16th Avenue on the Square.
The other two suspects, Luis E. Cruz, 30, and Luis E. Western, 35, were apprehended in Monroe without incident and face multiple felonies for their role in the alleged crime.
Rock County Sherriff's department officials also conducted an administrative review of the pursuit, "apart from the criminal investigation," in which they concluded that "deputies followed department policies and procedures and adhered to their training." Along with Green County deputies, the Wisconsin State Patrol Technical Reconstruction Unit also was found to "have conducted a very thorough, objective investigation into the incident" and that "no criminal liability" is warranted.
"(The review was done) with a fresh, independent set of eyes," Skatrud said on Thursday.
Sheriff's deputies, along with Monroe officers, began their chase after a reported armed robbery in progress at the First National Bank downtown, where the suspects allegedly were trying to get the victim from the nearby store to cash a check. Quick-thinking bank employees suspected foul play and called police.
Guadarrama then fled Monroe in the van. He was being pursued by a marked squad east of Brodhead when another deputy placed the stop sticks in front of the van. Trying to avoid them, the suspect "swerved sharply off the shoulder of the highway, losing control of the vehicle, and overturned several times," Ozanne's statement said.
Guadarrama, who was not wearing a safety belt, died at the scene of the crash.
Charges against Cruz, 30, include: Substantial battery with intent to cause bodily harm, a Class I Felony; two counts of armed battery, both Class C felonies; theft of moveable property, a Class I felony; and false imprisonment, a Class H felony.
Western, 35, is charged with substantial battery with intent to cause bodily harm, a Class I Felony; Two counts of armed battery, both Class C felonies; and false imprisonment, a Class H felony.
Both are scheduled to appear in court again at 8:30 a.m. on July 5.