Attorney for New Richmond man involved in motorcycle crash plans motion to suppress
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
HUDSON — The attorney for a 37-year-old New Richmond man who crashed his motorcycle in Glenwood City intends to file a motion to suppress evidence based on a Miranda warning issue.
Steven D. Tudahl appeared from the jail in a hearing before Judge Edward Vlack in St. Croix County Circuit Court on October 7.
Tudahl is charged with one felony count of fleeing an officer and three misdemeanor counts of resisting or obstructing an officer, criminal damage to property, and possession of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.
Tudahl also has been charged with several traffic violations, including refusing to take a test for intoxication after arrest; disorderly conduct with a motor vehicle; operating a motor vehicle without a valid license; and operating while intoxicated first offense.
Jeremiah Harrelson, Tudahl’s attorney, told the court he planned to file a motion to suppress evidence based on a Miranda warning issue.
According to a report from the Glenwood City Police Department, at around 7:30 p.m. August 26, Officer Adam Malean was on duty on West Oak Street and could hear what sounded like a loud motorcycle revving its engine near the 100 block of East Oak Street.
Officer Malean parked near the motorcycle, and as he was getting out of his vehicle, the man shook his head and sped off, driving around the squad car, headed west.
As Officer Malean contacted dispatch, he witnessed the motorcycle crash at the intersection of West Oak and Syme Avenue. When Officer Malean arrived at the crash site, the man, later identified as Steven Tudahl, was already standing up, lifting the motorcycle and attempting to flee again. Tudahl managed to put the motorcycle in drive and then drove into the passenger side of the squad car.
The officer monitored Tudahl’s medical status due to the accident, although Tudahl said numerous times he did not want EMS and that he was fine, according to the police report.
The officer asked Tudahl if he was willing to perform a sobriety test because Tudahl had said he’d been drinking and because of the odor of intoxicants, and Tudahl agreed.
Since there were a number of citizens standing near the scene, Officer Malean transported Tudahl to the veterinary clinic 200 yards from the scene for the field sobriety tests. Because Tudahl said he had leg and hip pain, Officer Malean only performed a nystagmus test.
When Tudahl was placed back in the squad car, he said he wanted medical attention because the pain was becoming worse, and EMS transported Tudahl to Western Wisconsin Health in Baldwin. Officer Malean followed the ambulance.
After the medical staff at Western Wisconsin Health had performed their assessment, Officer Malean asked Tudahl if he was able to listen to the officer read something, and Tudahl agreed. The officer read “the informing the accused,” after which Tudahl refused to submit to chemical testing.
Once Tudahl was cleared by medical staff, Officer Malean transported him to the St. Croix County Jail.
While leaving the hospital, the officer noticed the squad car was missing a windshield wiper and also had a dent and a cracked windshield, which presumably occurred when Tudahl drove into the squad car and which was later confirmed by the officer’s body camera, according to the police report.
Judge Vlack set a cash bail of $1,000 for Tudahl on August 27.
At the time of the October 7 hearing, Tudahl remained in custody at the St. Croix County Jail.
Tudahl is scheduled for another court hearing on October 22.
