La Crosse man facing multiple charges following welfare check

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — A La Crosse man is facing multiple charges following what started as a welfare check.

According to a criminal complaint, the sister of Sean Ewing, 27, asked police to do a welfare check as she suspected drug use and homelessness.

Dispatch informed the officer that there were two active warrants for Ewing out of Houston County, Minnesota.

Ewing ran off when Police tried to make contact with him at 1549 Rose Street February 14 at 11 a.m. The suspect caused damage to a wooden fence when he ran from authorities. Police were unable to locate the suspect.

Later that day, a burglary was reported on Gillette Street, near where police were searching for Ewing. A car was reported stolen from a garage. The victim said she had left her keys on the car seat.

At 2:14 p.m. that same afternoon, police were called to a hit and run on West Avenue near Market Street. The suspect left the area, drove in excess of 100 miles per hour at times and failed to stop for stop signs, according to the complaint.

The suspect drove the wrong way in a roundabout and side swiped an SUV, causing significant damage as well. Then the suspect lost control of the car he was driving and slid into a snow bank. He then ran from the scene. A K9 assisted in tracking the suspect, who was identified as Sean Ewing.

Ewing is charged with burglary of a building, operating a motor vehicle without owner’s consent, obstructing an officer, criminal damage to property, hit and run – injury, hit and run – attended vehicle and misdemeanor theft.

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