Mount Hope, WI – A 54-year-old man from Gays Mills with a string of outstanding felony warrants was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon following a brief foot chase involving drones and K-9 units in rural Grant County.

On March 3, 2026, at approximately 1:00 p.m., the Grant County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that Samuel Hatlan was hiding at a residence located at 7808 Shady Dell Rd in the Township of Mount Hope. Authorities confirmed Hatlan had multiple active felony arrest warrants issued out of Crawford County, stemming from incidents dating back to June 2025.

The warrants included charges such as:

•  Operating with a Restricted Controlled Substance (7th, 8th, or 9th offense)

•  Possession of Methamphetamine

•  Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

•  Illegally Obtaining Prescriptions

•  Multiple counts of Felony Bail Jumping

•  A second case of Operating with a Restricted Controlled Substance (7th, 8th, or 9th offense)

•  Resisting Arrest

•  Criminal Damage to Property

Hatlan also has a documented criminal history involving prior convictions for Battery and Disorderly Conduct, highlighting a pattern of repeated offenses related to substance use, non-compliance with court orders, and confrontational behavior.

Several Grant County deputies responded to the Shady Dell Road address. As officers approached, Hatlan fled on foot through a nearby pasture and adjacent field, ignoring repeated commands to stop. In response, the Sheriff’s Office deployed a drone for aerial surveillance and mobilized two K-9 units to assist in the apprehension.

The pursuit ended when K-9 Vezer’s presence prompted Hatlan to surrender peacefully. Deputies took him into custody without additional resistance or injury.

Hatlan was transported to the Crawford County Jail, where he was formally booked on all outstanding warrants. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office indicated it will refer new potential charges—including resisting arrest and possession of methamphetamine paraphernalia—to the Grant County District Attorney’s Office for review and possible prosecution.

This incident underscores ongoing challenges in rural Wisconsin counties with repeat offenders evading justice through bail jumping and substance-related crimes. The effective use of modern tools like drones, combined with traditional K-9 support, allowed for a swift and safe resolution in an open, rural terrain where pursuits can quickly become complicated.

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional details about the tip’s origin or Hatlan’s current custody status beyond booking