Warrant issued after ‘sovereign citizen’ skips hearing
Published 11:29 am Tuesday, January 8, 2013
A Wisconsin man who claimed he was a “sovereign citizen” in order to evade arrest after fleeing police in August has a warrant for his arrest after skipping his pretrial hearing last Friday.
Martin Wayne Chapman, 50, of Balsam Lake, faces charges of felony fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, gross misdemeanor neglect of a child and gross misdemeanor obstructing the legal process. Chapman previously pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
According to police reports, a Grand Meadow officer first attempted to stop Chapman after he clocked him going 68 mph in a 55 mph zone, according to the sheriff’s report. Chapman then pulled onto the Valley Transportation property west of Grand Meadow and allegedly refused to get out of the car or show his hands. According to the court complaint, Chapman said he is a “sovereign citizen” and would not recognize the officer’s authority. Chapman then left Valley Transportation, and deputies arrived and followed.
Chapman allegedly went south on 740th Avenue near Grand Meadow, crossed the centerline and nearly struck another vehicle. Deputies were able to block Chapman’s path as he pulled into the parking lot of the SKB Lounge; however, Chapman continually refused to get out of the car, according to the complaint. He told officers “I do not acknowledge your use of force,” the complaint adds.
After officers watched Chapman reach for the glove box several times, they smashed the car window and pulled Chapman out.