Racine man sentenced to 25 years in prison for crash that seriously injured deputy

WALWORTH COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Racine man was sentenced to 25 years behind bars Thursday, Nov. 17 for seriously injuring a deputy during a pursuit in August 2021.

Tony Perales plead guilty to first-degree reckless injury, fleeing an officer, operating without a valid license, bail jumping and injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle in April.

According to the Walworth County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Wayne Blanchard attempted to stop the vehicle Perales was driving for speeding and showing signs of impairment. Perales proceeded to increase his speed to over 100 miles per hour with both his headlights and taillights turned off and failing to stop at a stop sign. 

As Deputy Blanchard prepared to deploy a tire deflation device, Perales lost control, striking the guardrail Deputy Blanchard was positioned behind. 

The deputy, a 20-year veteran of the Walworth County Sheriff's Office at the time of the incident, was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. 

Perales was also ordered to pay more than $58,000 in restitution to the victim and more than $1 million to the insurance provider. 

His sentence includes 14 years of extended supervision following release.