TOWNSHIP OF GLENWOOD – The Wisconsin Department of Justice has released the name of the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office deputy who died Saturday night from a gunshot wound after responding to a possible drunk driver call.

Deputy Kaitie Leising, age 29, responded to a report of a potential drunk driver in a ditch at 6:15 p.m. May 6 near County Road G and Highway 128 in the Town of Glenwood. Leising had three years of law enforcement experience.

St. Croix County Sheriff Scott Knudson said in a news release that Leising had worked with St Croix County since 2022. Prior to that, she served with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office in South Dakota for about two years.

According to the DOJ, Leising encountered the driver or the vehicle in a ditch, along with another vehicle of individuals who had stopped to assist the suspect, identified as Jeremiah D. Johnson, 34. Leising asked Johnson to participate in field sobriety tests before returning to his vehicle. Johnson was evasive and after about eight minutes of dialog, he drew a handgun and shot the deputy.

After being struck, Leising fired her weapon three times, but none of the rounds hit Johnson before he fled to a nearby wooded area. The incident was captured on body camera.

The occupants of the assisting vehicle immediately began lifesaving measures on Leising, who died at a local hospital.

Additional officers responded and began searching the wooded area where Johnson had fled. After about one hour, an officer observed Johnson, heard a gunshot and saw him collapse to the ground. No officers discharged their weapons during the search. Police found a handgun near Johnson, who was dead.

Leising’s body was escorted from the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office to a St. Croix County funeral home by a law enforcement procession.

“Deputies and officers will stand vigil by her side until the services are complete,” Knudson said. “Our love and condolences go out to the family of Kaitie Leising and all those with home she served. We, as a law enforcement family, will do everything possible to provide support and comfort to her family. We will miss her infectious smile and personality. She will be missed by all she touched.”

The DOJ said there is no threat to the community. Its Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation and is being assisted by Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin State Crime Lab and a DCI Crime Response Specialist.

DCI is continuing to review evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over investigative reports to the St. Croix County District Attorney when the investigation concludes.

Funeral arrangements and law enforcement honors are pending.