JUNEAU — A 25-year-old Hartford man who allegedly led police on a 12-mile pursuit across highways, ditches and fields before repeatedly ramming a squad car early Sunday morning has been charged with attempting to elude a traffic officer.

Joshua J. Neu, 7178 Unicorn Drive, Hartford, was released Monday on a $5,000 cash bond following his initial court appearance on the felony charge that carries a maximum 3 1/2 year prison sentence and $10,000 fine.

Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls, said he anticipates charges of causing injury by operating while impaired and reckless endangerment will be referred to the District Attorney's office in the next week for consideration.

"Detectives were up in a plane yesterday over the fields where this took place, took pictures, took video — we're in no hurry. We did a very good investigation to make sure we cover all the bases," Nehls said.

According to a police report, the pursuit began on Highway 60 in the city of Hartford at 2:34 a.m. Sunday morning when a Hartford police officer saw Neu driving erratically and attempted to stop him. The officer pursued Neu's Ford Explorer through a field near the intersection of Highway N and Highway P, into the village of Neosho and then through a second field adjacent to the intersection of Hale and Elmwood roads, where the two vehicle collided.

"As we got close to (Elmwood Road), I notice the Explorer was not stopping, and we were going to collide. At this point, I slammed on the brakes of my vehicle . . . however, the Explorer clipped the front of my squad car," the officer stated in a report.

After the initial collision, Neu reportedly turned his Explorer around and rammed it into the driver's side door of the squad two times. The door was badly damaged and wouldn't open as Neu lined up his Explorer for a third strike, so the officer used his gun to shoot out the driver's side window and dove from the car just before the Explorer clipped it again. The officer suffered a cut to his neck and soreness in his hip and shoulder in the exchange.

According to reports, Neu then drove into a field near Highway MM where he and a 32-year-old passenger in his vehicle tried to flee on foot. Deputies took the passenger into custody immediately and Neu's father returned him to the scene a short while later.

Before the pursuit unfolded early Sunday morning, Neu had a minimal criminal record. According to online court records, his only prior offense was a disorderly conduct charge filed in 2008.

"I think he's just one of those kids who has probably had a pretty good life, didn't want to risk getting caught for drunken driving and made a bad decision," Nehls said.

amartin@capitalnewspapers.com