Deputies from the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office will not face prosecution following a shooting incident that occurred late last month, according to a decision from the Sauk County District Attorney’s Office.
The decision comes after a review of body camera footage and an investigation into the events that led to the fatal encounter with suspect Jeffrey Miller.
The incident began on the night of July 23, 2024, when an officer from the Sauk Prairie Police Department attempted to stop a red minivan suspected of being driven by an intoxicated driver.
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The driver, later identified as Jeffrey E. Miller, refused to stop and led officers on a high-speed chase through the area.
The pursuit was initially terminated due to the reckless nature of Miller’s driving, but a Sauk County Deputy soon located the vehicle on Highway 113 near County Road DL.
As Miller continued to flee, law enforcement deployed Stop Sticks in an effort to bring the vehicle to a halt on Highway 113 near Water Street in Baraboo.
Despite these efforts, Miller evaded the Stop Sticks and eventually crashed his vehicle a short distance later.
When deputies approached the crash site, Miller fired multiple shots at the responding officers, prompting them to return fire.
Body camera footage released by the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office shows the intense exchange of gunfire.
After the initial confrontation, Miller exited the vehicle and fled on foot into a nearby wooded area.
Despite an extensive manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Baraboo Police Department, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and Wisconsin State Patrol, officers lost sight of Miller as he disappeared into the woods.
Three days later, on July 26, 2024, Miller was found deceased inside a residence in the Village of Amherst, Wisconsin.
The circumstances of his death are currently under investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). It remains unclear whether any of the shots fired by deputies during the initial confrontation struck Miller.
Following the incident, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation into the actions of the deputies involved in the shooting.
Their findings were subsequently reviewed by the Sauk County District Attorney’s Office, which determined that there was no basis for prosecuting the officers involved, citing the facts and circumstances presented in the case.
In addition to the investigation, the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office released the body camera footage from the night of the incident, providing a transparent account of the events that transpired.
The footage is available for public viewing, and any further open records requests related to the investigation are being directed to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Chip Meister praised the coordinated efforts of the various agencies involved in the pursuit and search for Miller, emphasizing the importance of community safety and the need for cooperation between law enforcement and the public.
Residents in the area were advised to remain vigilant during the manhunt, and law enforcement officials initially urged those living nearby to shelter in place until the situation was resolved.
The advisory has since been lifted following the discovery of Miller’s body.
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