Man fleeing police surrenders because he couldn't stand swarming mosquitoes

CAMPBELLSPORT, Wis. (CBS 58) – Police say a man who led officers on a high-speed chase after helping to steal alcohol from a grocery store in Campbellsport gave himself up because the mosquitoes were so bad.

Campbellsport Police say officers were called to a theft of alcohol from the Piggly Wiggly.

Surveillance video shows a man loading up his cart with hundreds of dollars worth of alcohol.

The suspect then got into a car and the driver, later identified as John Wilson, fled the scene.

Police said at one point, the car stopped and Wilson got out and ran away.

Police surrounded the area but the mosquitoes were out in full force.

"As soon as the Sheriff’s Department arrived, that’s the first thing I asked for, if he could give me some spray because it was crazy," said Chief Thomas Dornbrook with the Campbellsport Police.

Roughly an hour later, Wilson surrendered because he couldn't stand the swarming mosquitoes any longer.

"When we handcuffed him he asked us to wipe his forehead because he had 15-20 mosquitoes on his forehead at that time," said Dornbrook.

While normally frustrating, itchy, any annoying painful; these mosquitoes ended up being a great crime solving sidekick.

"I think if it weren’t for the mosquitoes he would have kept walking and trying to get a ride from someone. I tease Sergeant Zitlow, he along with a million mosquitoes helped capture the guy," said Dornbrook.

Wilson is now charged with fleeing officers, retail theft, and obstructing an officer.

Police are still looking for the thief.