Police chase from Sparta to West Salem reaches 100 mph

A high-speed pursuit by Sparta police ended in the village of West Salem on Thursday night.

According to the report, the chase began at 10:21 p.m. on Hammer Rd. in Sparta, as 48-year-old Greg Balfanyl tried to ram Sparta police cruisers trying to get out of town.

The chase headed west on Hwy. 16 and reached 100 miles an hour at one point.

After multiple attempts using what police call “pursuit intervention techniques,” the La Crosse man was finally stopped and arrested in West Salem.

Balfanyl was charged with felony fleeing, OWI, reckless endangerment, three warrants and felony bail jumping.