Accused driver in wild U-Haul chase pleads not guilty

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WBAY) - The man accused of leading police in Fond du Lac and Winnebago counties on a wild chase in a U-Haul box truck pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, but online court records suggest a plea deal is in the works.

Omah Brown, 46, from Milwaukee is accused of trying to buy a car from a man in Omro with fake cashier’s checks. When the man became suspicious, police say Brown shot the man in the hand, and then led police on a chase on Interstate 41.

Police deflated the truck’s tires but say Brown continued driving on the rims. At one point, the U-Haul truck drove through traffic in reverse. Squad cars forced the truck into the median to protect oncoming traffic.

He’s charged with first-degree recklessly endangering safety, substantial battery causing bodily harm, vehicle operator fleeing/eluding an officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and being party to the crimes of armed robbery and attempted theft between $10,000 and $100,000.

Brown waived a reading of the formal charges Monday, and a plea and sentencing hearing was scheduled for February.

He remains in custody on a half-million dollars bond.

His codefendant, Shakierra Ray, 27, of Green Bay will also be in court in February for a plea hearing. A jury trial is scheduled for April unless she pleads guilty or no-contest to the charges of being party to the crimes of armed robbery and attempted theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm.