Vehicle chase ends in Menomonie, suspect at large after eluding police

MENOMONIE — A retail theft that occurred in Minnesota turned into a police pursuit that ended in Menomonie Monday night, March 13.

A woman passenger, identified as 21-year-old Destiny A. Willage-Solono was taken into custody but a man is still at large after he eluded police. Willage-Solono was listed as homeless by authorities.

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Wisconsin State Patrol at 7:56 p.m. March 13 about a motor vehicle pursuit on I-94 that had started in Minnesota in reference to a felony retail theft.  The vehicle had exited the interstate at Exit 41 in Menomonie and the pursuit was discontinued.

According to a news release, a Dunn County Sheriff’s deputy later observed the vehicle in question operating without headlamps and ran a stop sign at a high rate of speed.

The deputy re-initiated a pursuit and the vehicle fled north on STH 25 to the Village of Wheeler and then back southbound on STH 25.

Stop sticks (spike strips) were deployed on STH 25 south of 850th Ave which deflated both driver’s side tires. While the vehicle was still in motion both occupants jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot.

Willage-Solono, the female passenger, was arrested after a short foot pursuit and then was transported to Mayo-Menomonie for treatment of injuries she sustained after jumping out of the moving vehicle. She was later transported to the Dunn County Jail and is being held on a probation warrant.  Additional charges are pending.   

The driver, identified as 29- year-old Cody C. Forbes of Neenah WI was pursued on foot  by  several Dunn County deputies along with K-9 Jax and Wisconsin State Troopers.

The E911 center started receiving several calls from the North Menomonie area that a subject was going door-to-door asking for a ride.  Menomonie Officers responded to the area and the subject fled.  The area including the Wal-Mart Store was checked but officers were unable to locate Forbes.

Forbes is described as wearing blue jeans, a plaid shirt with a possible green vest over the top.  He is a white male, 5’ 6” and 168 pounds with a full beard and glasses with brown hair and brown eyes.  

If you see Forbes please call 911.  

Forbes has outstanding warrants and is wanted for charges in both Wisconsin and Minnesota related to this incident.  

Shortly after the initial news release was sent out earlier Tuesday morning March 14, the Menomonie Police Department took a report of a stolen motor vehicle in the northern end of the City of Menomonie. This was close to the area where Forbes was last seen and it is believed the two incidents are related.  

The stolen motor vehicle is described as a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited black in color with WI truck plate HW3271.  The Jeep had several hunting stickers on the back along with a sticker of a Husky.