MILTON, Wis. --
The Rock County Sheriff's Department said that an early morning car chase ended with a suspect setting a vehicle on fire on the interstate before being arrested Saturday.
Authorities said they responded to a call around 4:10 a.m. Saturday by a resident on North Clear Lake Road, west of Milton, who reported that her daughter, Leah Marie Pospisil, 28, was outside the home and was threatening the residents with a gas can in hand in a dispute that stemmed from custody and location issues regarding Pospisil's 6-year-old child.
Sheriff's deputies and Milton and Edgerton police arrived at the home shortly after Pospisil left the house in a tan VW four-door, reportedly with the gas can, authorities said. Sheriff's officials said a license plate check on the vehicle indicated that it had been reported stolen out of Chicago.
At about 4:30 a.m., a Janesville police officer saw the occupied vehicle in the Kwik Trip parking lot off Milton Avenue in the city of Janesville. Authorities said the officer saw the VW pull out of the lot and that it ran through a red light once Pospisil spotted the Janesville squad car behind her.
Authorities said Pospisil then entered the southbound lanes of Interstate 39/90 toward Illinois. The Janesville officers in immediate pursuit reported speeds well in excess of 100 mph as the VW continued southbound on I-39/90, authorities said.
Sheriff's officials said a Rock County deputy was able to successfully set up and deploy tire-flattening Stop-Sticks in front of the VW in the area of the 175 mile marker, south of the Racine Street ramp, and the VW slowed to a crawl soon after as the tires began to flatten.
Authorities said that in the area of the 177 mile marker, Pospisil stopped her vehicle and opened the driver's side door, and then in full view of the officers behind her, she poured gasoline all over the interior of the vehicle. She closed the door and continued southbound slowly with officers still following the vehicle at a safe distance, authorities said.
A short time later, Pospisil stopped the vehicle once more, got out with the gas can in hand and poured gasoline over the exterior of the vehicle before pouring it on her body and clothes, officials said. Authorities said she then lit the trunk area on fire with a butane cigarette lighter, and then ran southbound.
Sheriff's officials said that as the car flamed up, officers were able to get around it and chase Pospisil down on foot, knocking her to the ground and dislodging the lighter from her hand.
No one was injured in the incident and Pospisil was transported by Janesville emergency responders to Mercy hospital for medical clearance, authorities said.
Authorities said the stolen VW is likely a total loss, with substantial fire and water damage, and the interstate was shut down for about an hour to allow officers to make the arrest and clear the scene.
Janesville police arrested Pospisil on felony charges of fleeing and arson and a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving. Rock County deputies arrested Pospisil on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct and for an outstanding US Secret Service warrant for what appears at this time to be a charge of battery.
Vehicle theft charges are also pending out of Chicago, which is the area in which Pospisil was thought to be living.
Authorities said Pospisil will be held in custody pending her appearance in Rock County Circuit Court.
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