Adams County, Wis. — A Fourth of July evening took a dangerous turn after an Illinois man led law enforcement on a high-speed ATV pursuit through rural roads in Adams County, putting himself and a young passenger at serious risk.
The incident occurred on July 4 around 7:30 p.m., when an Adams County Sheriff’s deputy noticed an ATV traveling along State Highway 82 near 13th Drive in the town of Springville. The ATV lacked registration plates, and more alarmingly, it had a young girl seated in front of the driver—without a helmet.
The deputy attempted to pull the vehicle over due to the visible safety and legal violations. However, the ATV operator ignored the emergency lights and siren, choosing instead to flee at speeds between 30 and 70 mph, occasionally swerving into the oncoming lane. The chase continued for approximately 6.5 miles before the suspect veered off onto private land along the 2900 block of 9th Court.
Once on the property, the ATV crashed into a wooded area, and the rider and passenger fled on foot. The ATV was found abandoned and damaged after striking trees along a trail.
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Multiple units from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Warden responded to the scene. Investigators traced the vehicle to an address and attempted to locate the individual involved. A short time later, the suspect—identified as 35-year-old David Gialds of Grayslake, Illinois—contacted authorities and admitted involvement. He confirmed that both he and the juvenile were unharmed in the incident.
Gialds was arrested and faces several serious charges, including felony fleeing/eluding law enforcement and second-degree recklessly endangering safety. In addition, he received multiple citations for traffic and DNR violations, including operating an ATV on a restricted roadway and failing to ensure the child passenger wore a helmet.
Following a bail hearing on Monday, Gialds was released on a $500 cash bond.
Officials took the opportunity to remind both residents and visitors that while most township and county roads in Adams County are open to ATV/UTV traffic, state highways are generally off-limits unless otherwise posted. They also emphasized the importance of following safety regulations, including mandatory helmet use for all riders under 18.
