Local woman found with drone, then arrested

The Marathon County Sheriff’s Department on Oct. 29 used a drone with an infrared camera to locate and arrest a 40-year-old Fenwood woman who fled into a cornfield following a head-on crash on CTH M, town of Cleveland.

An incident report states that deputies deployed the drone after Jessica Kasten, one of the parties in the late morning car crash, ran into a cornfield and did not respond to a squad car loudspeaker. Upon reaching altitude, the drone took 10 seconds to pick up Kasten’s “body heat signature” and locate her.

Deputies found Kasten wearing a pink hoodie and pajama pants. She suffered from a bloody nose and possible broken ankle.

Kasten told police that she had earlier driven to Stratford to purchase small bottles of liquor and, while driving home, came around a curve and was unable to stop in time before crashing into a green pickup truck turning into a driveway. She told officers she ran into the cornfield because she did not want to go to prison even though the crash was not her fault.

Police searched Kasten’s car and located an empty 50 milliliter bottle of watermelon flavored liquor. Another full bottle was found in a plastic bag in the car. Kasten kept two additional bottles in her hoodie. She consumed a third bottle while in the custody of police. Police found alprazolam and hydroxzine hydrochloride pills, which are used for treating anxiety, in Kasten’s possession.

The Edgar ambulance transported Kasten to the Aspirus Wausau Hospital where she initially refused a blood test. After police received a warrant, a blood draw was conducted.

Kasten faces numerous charges in Marathon County Circuit Court. These include fourth offense driving while intoxicated, possession of a controlled substance, hit and run, operating after revocation, bail jumping and operating a vehicle without insurance.

Travis Ellis, 37, town of Cleveland, the other party in the car crash, was cited for failing to yield and making a left turn resulting in bodily harm.