By Joe Bachman

A 19-year-old Wisconsin Rapids man could face jail time after attempting to flee an officer.

According to reports on Oct. 29, an officer observed a driver who failed to stop for a red light at the intersection of Lincoln St. and Riverview Expressway. The officer activated his emergency lights in an attempt to stop the vehicle.

The driver, later identified as James Swatek, did not slow down and instead accelerated to speeds up to 60 M.P.H. through nearby neighborhoods in an attempt to elude the officer. In this process, the defendant sped through another stop sign.

After pulling into a driveway, Swatek got out of his vehicle and started to run, but didn’t get far as the chasing officer pulled his vehicle alongside the defendant’s car, preventing him from going anywhere.

If convicted, Swatek faces up to three years and six months imprisonment and up to $10,000 in fines. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 8.