Man Pleads Guilty In 2019 Waukesha County Pursuit; Gets 8 Years

WAUKESHA, WI— A man who led a standoff that shut down the I-94 in Waukesha County in June 2019 was sentenced on Thursday in Waukesha County Circuit Court.

Nathan Halfmann, 38, pleaded guilty Thursday to two charges in connection with the pursuit and standoff that occurred June 2019. Five other charges were dismissed as a result of the plea deal.

Halfmann was sentenced to eight years in prison, and seven years' extended supervision.

WTMJ 4 reported Halmfann's apology in court.

"Here to accept responsibility for my actions, and say I'm sorry to anyone affected by those actions," he said. "I truly do regret them. There's not a second of any day that has gone by since this has happened that I'm not reminded of it both physically and mentally."

According to WTMJ's report, Waukesha County Judge Jennifer Dorow said this was a case in which "there were two drug-affected minds that fed off each other."

High-speed chase on I-94

It was just before 5 p.m. June 4, 2019 when, according to a WISN-TV report, an employee at a local business said their office was asked to shelter in place due to a high-speed chase involving a man with a gun. Authorities issued an emergency alert, advising motorists to steer clear of a stretch of I-94 between Highways F and P in Waukesha County.

A flood of eyewitness videos began pouring into social media, including one that showed law enforcement officers throwing out spike strips in an attempt to disable a fleeing gray minivan.

A deputy responding to the saw the gray minivan and a man behind the wheel pointing a firearm at the deputy. The deputy then fired at the suspect, later identified as Nathan Halfmann, authorities said.

Waukesha County Sheriff Eric Severson said the suspect then called the Waukesha County Communications Center, demanding to speak with a negotiator, and claiming that he was holding his accomplice, Kalin Sunde hostage. Severson said the man refused to surrender for more than five hours, eventually prompting police to deploy tear gas.

Deputies reported seeing the suspect flee the van with Sunde being held at gunpoint. Severson said two tactical officers fired at Halfmann, hitting him twice.

Sunde stabbed a Waukesha County K9 and was apprehended — after fleeing while on bond. Sunde was sentenced in October 2019 to five years in prison and six years of extended supervision.