Wisconsin Rapids Man Pleads No Contest to Firing at Police During High-Speed Chase Across Portage and Wood Counties
STEVENS POINT, Wisconsin — A 41-year-old Wisconsin Rapids man has pleaded no contest to attempted first-degree homicide after prosecutors said he opened fire on police during a high-speed chase across Portage and Wood counties in August 2024.
Chase Began After Domestic Incident
According to a criminal complaint, the incident began when a Wisconsin Rapids woman reported that Clinton H. Mayotte was acting paranoid at her home. She said Mayotte struck her with her cellphone, covered her mouth, and briefly held her down before leaving in her vehicle.
The vehicle was later spotted by police, leading to a traffic stop and subsequent chase in Portage County during the early morning hours of August 20, 2024.
Shots Fired at Officers During Pursuit
A deputy reported pursuing Mayotte’s vehicle at speeds near 100 mph westbound on State 54, when Mayotte allegedly fired shots at the squad car. The pursuit crossed into Wood County, where more deputies and Grand Rapids police joined in.
As the chase wound through Wisconsin Rapids streets, Mayotte allegedly fired two additional shots toward pursuing officers at the intersection of 17th Avenue and Chase Street. Police eventually disabled his vehicle on East Grand Avenue, but Mayotte fled on foot.
Standoff Ends With Suspect Shot
According to investigators, Mayotte climbed onto the roof of a house, where he continued firing at officers. Two Wisconsin Rapids police officials reported that Mayotte pointed a handgun directly at them, prompting officers to return fire. He was struck and injured before being taken into custody.
Plea Agreement and Sentencing
On October 2, 2025, Mayotte entered a no contest plea to attempted first-degree homicide in Portage County Circuit Court before Judge Louis Molepske Jr. Under the plea agreement, charges of fleeing an officer and possession of a firearm as a felon were dismissed but read into the record.
Earlier this year, on January 30, Mayotte also pleaded no contest to an attempted homicide charge in Wood County, where Judge Scott Corbett found him guilty. He is scheduled for sentencing in Wood County on December 15 and in Portage County on January 9.
Prosecutors noted Mayotte faces a maximum of 40 years of initial confinement for each attempted homicide conviction. He remains jailed on a $2 million cash bail.
The violent pursuit that stretched across two Wisconsin counties left officers shaken but uninjured, and Mayotte now faces decades behind bars for his actions. For more Wisconsin crime and court updates, follow ChicagoMusicGuide.com.