Two-state high-speed chase ends with arrest

BESSEMER — A high-speed pursuit that allegedly topped speeds of 100 mph and went through both Wisconsin and Michigan ended with the arrest of Paul Edward Harley, 59, of Wakefield.

The saga began with a report of a black Buick Enclave running vehicles off the road and traveling at speeds of over 100 mph heading east on U.S. 2 near Kimball, Wis., according to an Iron County Sheriff’s Department report. According to the ICSD report, the caller, who first reported the vehicle, continued to follow the driver across the state line and into Michigan. The driver eventually stopped for Gogebic County Sheriff’s deputies following the deployment of spike strips on eastbound U.S. 2 near Pine Lane.

According to a Gogebic County Sheriff’s Department report, the two deputies who responded to the call — Deputy Jessie Yesney and Deputy Jake Bucknell — were asked for assistance by the Ironwood Public Safety Department after the vehicle almost hit a light pole near Red’s Auto. The two deputies began traveling westbound on U.S. 2, with Bucknell staying near Puritan Road and Yesney continuing west.

Yesney encountered a vehicle matching the description of Harley’s vehicle traveling at 71 mph west of Grandview Lane near the transfer station, according to the GCSD report. Yesney proceeded to follow the vehicle, noticing that it crossed both the white fog line and yellow center line, activating his lights to signal the vehicle to pull over.

Harley came to a stop east of Puritan Road and pulled onto the road’s shoulder after he saw Bucknell and the deployed spikes, the GCSD report said.

Harley initially said he didn’t know why he was being stopped and told Yesney that he was returning from Ashland, Wis.

Yesney wrote in the report he could smell alcohol on Harley’s breath and asked him to step out of the vehicle. Harley refused to take a breathalyzer test, according to the report, but he told a Hurley Police Officer on the scene that he had two beers.

Harley was arrested and later tests put his blood alcohol content at .18, according to the report. He waived his rights and was interviewed by Yesney, where he told Yesney that he was at a client’s home in Ashland and had had something to drink.

“He stated ‘one beer’ and later said ‘one beer and scotch,’” Yesney wrote in the report. Harley denied going 100 mph in Wisconsin when told of the claim.

According to a witness report, the driver who first called the police had been following Harley from the casino near Odanah, Wis. The driver claimed Harley crossed the center line and forced an oncoming car onto the shoulder just east of the casino before speeding up to 100 mph and then breaking to 40 mph. The driver claimed Harley almost caused multiple accidents while he followed him.

Harley was charged with operating while impaired with a blood alcohol count over .17 and felony fleeing and eluding — first degree. He also received warnings for refusing the breathalyzer and speeding 71 mph in a 55 mph zone. He was lodged at the GCSD.

In addition to deputies from the GCSD, officers from the Michigan State Police, Ironwood Public Safety Department and Hurley Police Department also responded to the scene.