UPDATED Wednesday, March 31, 2010 --- 3:23 p.m.

A man who led police on a chase through two counties will stand trial.

Eldon Weinda waived his preliminary hearing today.

Police say Weinda took a woman at knife point earlier this month in McFarland and led police on a chase that ended in Rock county.

Weinda was eventually arrested after officers used spikes to stop his vehicle. He was already a Dane County inmate out on Huber release.

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UPDATED Wednesday, March 10, 2010 -- 5:30 p.m.
By NBC15's Dana Brueck

A kidnapping suspect was arrested at gunpoint after leading police on a chase down the Interstate into oncoming traffic Wednesday.

The suspect - a Dane County inmate - is back in custody.

He's accused of kidnapping a woman, then heading toward the state line.

A DOT camera captured part of the pursuit as it continued down the Interstate toward Beloit.

It shows the blue Chevy Lumina going into oncoming traffic -- one of a number of times the suspect crossed the Interstate median... leading the Rock County sheriff to authorize deadly force, if necessary.

"It became apparent this individual was going to flee no matter what the cost, and while we were concerned about the safety of victim, we were also concerned about the potential use of that vehicle against innocent people on the Interstate," Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden says.

Investigators say the ordeal began around nine o'clock in the morning when Eldon Weinda went to the McFarland rental home of a woman, described as a girlfriend.

"...Victim indicated been together a number of years..."

Police say Weinda forced his way into the place, then kidnapped the 24 year old at knifepoint.

"The information we have... she did not go willingly .. she was dragged from residence, possibly by her hair."

Two other men, who were at the house at the time, called police.

A Dane County deputy spotted the vehicle, heading south on the Interstate... then a chase ensued.

Officers used stop sticks to try to stop the vehicle... but Sheriff Spoden says Weinda still managed to travel more than 10 miles... crisscrossing crossing the median to avoid police.

"After the 2nd and 3rd tires were deflated, the vehicle began to slow down," Spoden says.

Weinda was arrested at gunpoint when his car became disabled in a pool of water in the median near Beloit.

Police say the victim suffered minor injuries, cuts and a bump to her head.

The Rock County Sheriff says he was talking with authorities in Illinois about possibly shutting down the toll both on both sides.

Weinda's likely to face a number of charges in Dane and Rock Counties.

The Dane County Sheriff says Weinda was serving a 2 and half year jail sentence with Huber privileges for possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

He left the public safety building this morning to look for a job.

UPDATED Wednesday, March 10, 2010 --- 4:15 p.m.

Press Release from the Dane County Sheriff's Office:

Madison, WI. March 10, 2010 – A Dane County Jail work release inmate is back in custody this afternoon, and facing several new charges stemming from a domestic related incident.

Eldon G. Weinda, age 33 of Madison, left the Public Safety Building location of the Dane County Jail at approximately 8:00 am for an approved employment search. The employment search was granted as part of his court ordered Huber sentence guidelines.

At approximately 9:00 am, McFarland Police Officers respond to a domestic related disturbance at a residence on Terminal Drive in the Village of McFarland. Weinda had forced his way into the home, and reportedly armed with a knife, took 23 year-old female, forced her into her vehicle and fled. Two adult male witnesses inside the home called 911 to report the incident.

At approximately 9:07 am, a Dane County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted the car traveling eastbound on I-90, and a pursuit began. Dane County Sheriff’s Deputies pursued the suspect as he continued traveling on I-90/39. Weinda crossed into Rock County at approximately 9:20 am, at which point Rock County Sheriff’s Deputies joined in the pursuit. As Weinda traveled through Rock County, the WI State Patrol and Janesville Police also participated. Road spikes were deployed several times, some of which Weinda avoided by driving into the ditch and at times crossing over into oncoming traffic. He did hit at least one set of road spikes, flattening his left front tire, and slowing his speed. At approximately 9:43 am, Weinda drove into the center median and came to a stop, approximately 1 ½ miles from the Illinois state line. He was taken into custody without incident, and the female passenger, who had minor injuries, was taken to safety by authorities.

All the agencies involved are pleased the incident came to a swift and peaceful conclusion.

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UPDATED Wednesday, March 10, 2010 --- 1:20 p.m.

UPDATE from NBC15's Dana Brueck: A press conference is underway right now on this developing story.

The driver/suspect is identified as Eldon G. Weinda. Weinda was serving time for the intent to deliver cocaine. He did have Huber privileges. He was released based on an agreement that he was going to look for a job. The woman taken via knife point was a 24-year-old female who received minor injuries. Authorities confirm suspect and victim had been dating for a number of years. Detectives continue to investigate how the Weinda got to McFarland in the first place after released from Huber.

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UPDATED Wednesday, March 10, 2010 --- 12:33 p.m.

Press Release from the Rock Co. Sheriff's Department:

On March 10, 2010, the Rock County Sheriff’s Office was advised that Dane County deputies were in pursuit of a blue Chevrolet Lumina that was eastbound on I90 at mile marker 154. They advised that the operator was a suspect in a “kidnapping by knifepoint” case in their county. Dane County requested that our agency deploy stop sticks in the area of I90 and US 14 in an attempt to stop the vehicle.

Based on the information that was provided, the Rock County Sheriff’s Office set up to deploy stop sticks on I90 just south of US 14. In addition, the State Patrol got into position to deploy stop sticks just north of US 14. A short while later, the suspect vehicle arrived at that location and stop sticks were successfully deployed, immediately deflating the front driver’s tire and damaging the driver’s rear tire. When the suspect, later identified as Eldon G. Weinda (M/B, DOB:08-22-76) approached the second stop stick location, he veered across the median and into oncoming traffic in order to avoid the stop sticks.

Weinda crossed the median again after passing the stop sticks and continued eastbound on I90 as speeds of approximately 55-60 miles per hour. Several jurisdictions assisted with the pursuit and attempted to set up stop sticks as the pursuit continued through Rock County, including Dane County Sheriff’s Office, the Wisconsin State Patrol, Janesville Police Department, Beloit Police Department and the Town of Turtle Police Department

At the intersection of I90 and CTH S, Weinda again crossed the median and went up the westbound I90 on-ramp against traffic. He then re-entered I90 eastbound using the eastbound on-ramp. At that location, a Rock County Sheriff’s Office squad attempted to block the roadway and Weinda steered toward the squad in a highly reckless manner. Weinda was able to get around the squad car at that point and continued eastbound on I90.

Approximately one mile later, officers from Beloit PD were in a position to deploy stop sticks across the entire interstate and Weinda again chose to cross the median into on-coming traffic. This time, as he attempted to cross back to eastbound I90, he struck a depression filled with water and his vehicle became disabled. Weinda was taken into custody at gunpoint and the female kidnapping victim was rescued from the vehicle.

Weinda faces several felony traffic charges for his actions within Rock County, as well as several charges in McFarland and Dane County as a result of the initial incident and actions taken in those jurisdictions.

Pursuant to the directive of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicity, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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UPDATED Wednesday, March 10, 2010 --- 10:55 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Authorities say a man has been arrested following a car chase through Dane and Rock counties that began with a home invasion and abduction in McFarland Wednesday.

The chase on Interstate 39/90 ended shortly before 10 a.m. after the man drove into the median near the Beloit exit.

Sheriff's officials say the chase started about 9 a.m. when a man armed with a knife abducted the woman and took off on the interstate.

Dane County sheriff's spokeswoman Elise Schaffer says the incident started as a domestic dispute.

The Capital Times reports metal spikes were used to slow down the car in Dane County, but the driver continued south into Rock County.

Information from:
The Capital Times
http://www.madison.com/tct

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Posted Wednesday, March 10, 2010 --- 10:10 a.m.

A suspect was taken into custody this morning at 9:46 a.m. after a high speed chase.

The driver led deputies on a high speed pursuit on I-39/90 through Dane and Rock Counties. It ended near the state line.

The incident started in McFarland as a domestic situation. A spokesperson told NBC15, a man armed with a knife took a woman into his vehicle.

Metal spikes were used on the Interstate to stop the driver. But the driver did travel with a flat tire.

The conditions of the driver and the passenger are not known at this time.

Stay with NBC15 and NBC15.com for continuing coverage on this breaking news story.