A man is facing multiple charges after crashing into a Middleton hardware store and hitting a pedestrian near the Middleton/Madison city line earlier this month, Channel3000 reports.
Tyler Middleton, 24, of Beaver Dam, allegedly crashed into the Ace Hardware on Allen Boulevard and drove away in an Oct. 11 incident. He now faces felony counts of first-degree reckless injury, eluding an officer, and hit-and-run involving injury, among other charges.
A criminal complaint states that upon police arrival at the scene, Middleton entered his vehicle in front of the store and refused to get out. An officer placed a tire deflation device behind the vehicle and left to get a tool to force entry into the vehicle if necessary. Middleton drove away on Allen Boulevard toward University Avenue, where he allegedly hit a pedestrian and another vehicle. He eventually surrendered after a standoff with law enforcement.
Police have said Middleton may have been suffering a mental health crisis at the time of the incident.
In a search of Middleton’s car, police found a power washer, a hammer, and a mallet that had been stolen.
In a court appearance Monday, not guilty pleas were entered on Middleton’s behalf for any misdemeanor counts. Middleton remained in the Dane County Jail as of Tuesday evening. A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 7.
