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Washington County recognizes communications officers and deputies for role in stopping alleged abduction
Summary
The county read a July 15 resolution honoring communications staff and two deputies who helped locate and stop a vehicle carrying an alleged kidnapping victim May 29, 2026; the county credited coordinated 911 work and deputies for recovering a handgun, restraints and other evidence.
A county captain presented a resolution on July 15 recognizing communications officers and deputies for their roles in locating and interrupting an alleged abduction that began in Milwaukee County and ended in Washington County.
The presenter said that on May 29, 2026, at about 11:10 p.m., the victim, who had been lured into a vehicle, was restrained and threatened with a gun and other weapons. The victim retrieved a cell phone and contacted Milwaukee 911 and her mother; Milwaukee and local dispatchers tracked the vehicle northbound on Interstate 41 into Washington County, where deputies stopped it. "After conducting the traffic stop of this vehicle, deputy separated the parties, observed the handgun and handcuffs inside the vehicle," the presenter said.
The resolution, dated July 15 and signed by Sheriff Marty Schulteis, formally recognizes communications officers Jaden Wood, Danica Sala (transcript variants), Jack McCreary (transcript variants) and deputies Brian Pyle and Anthony Rausch for coordinating with Milwaukee County dispatch and responding deputies. The reading states that investigators later found duct tape, a hacksaw, restraints, condoms and a shovel in the vehicle and that the defendant faces felony counts in Milwaukee County, including attempted second-degree assault, kidnapping and false imprisonment with a dangerous-weapon enhancer; a Washington County complaint for felonious false imprisonment was also filed.
Chair thanked the presenters and staff for their "teamwork" and coordination with adjacent counties, saying the county had turned "a terrible situation into a great outcome." The resolution text included praise from Milwaukee police detectives for Deputy Rausch's professionalism and communication with the victim.
The presenter cautioned that the case remains under adjudication in Milwaukee and Washington counties and that details were limited in the committee presentation. The reading emphasized that communications center staff helped gather, verify and relay critical information in real time.
The committee did not record a formal roll-call vote on the recognition in the transcript; the resolution was presented to the committee and noted as dated and signed by the sheriff. The committee moved on to other agenda items after thanking the presenters.
