Formal charges filed in Hodag Park shooting, high-speed chas

The Oneida County district attorney’s office has filed formal charges against three young men arrested in connection with a shooting incident and high-speed chase in Rhinelander on May 22.
Stewie James Daniels, 18, of Rhinelander has been charged with three felonies, two counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety and one count of operator flee/elude officer (bodily harm or property damage). Daniels is also facing two misdemeanor counts: carrying a concealed weapon and operating a firearm while intoxicated. Isaiah Izikel Matthew Hammer, 18, of Crandon, has been charged with second degree endangering safety as a repeater, intentionally pointing a firearm at a law enforcement officer (repeater) and possession of firearm by a felon (repeater), all felonies. The fourth count in his case is a misdemeanor count of operating a firearm while intoxicated (repeater). Darius A. Polar, 17, is charged with second degree recklessly endangering safety and possession of a firearm after being adjudicated as delinquent, both felonies. He is also facing three misdemeanor counts: operating a firearm while intoxicated and two counts of bail jumping. The complaint against Polar lists a Crandon address but in court he referred to himself as homeless. The trio appeared before Judge Michael Schiek on May 26 for what are known as Riverside hearings — proceedings held when a criminal referral has been made but charges have not yet been formally filed. At that time, the district attorney’s office was still gathering reports and analyzing the case, according to statements made in court.
Schiek set bond at $150,000 cash for Daniels, the alleged driver of the vehicle; $350,000 cash for Hammer, identified as the front passenger; and $150,000 cash for Polar, the rear passenger. All three were ordered to have no contact with each other or with a fourth individual, a female who was arrested with the group. The female has not been charged with a crime.
According to the district attorney’s office, the incident began at approximately 1:45 p.m. Friday, May 22, when shots were reported at Hodag Park near the boat landing and baseball fields. According to prosecutors, a law enforcement officer observed the three males shooting over Boom Lake. The park was busy at the time — the boat landing area was active, and a grand opening ceremony for the new splash pad was taking place on the other side of the park.
After the shooting, the group got into a red Chevy Cruze and law enforcement attempted a traffic stop, triggering a pursuit that wound through the city at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. According to a Rhinelander Police Department press release, the chase had to be terminated multiple times due to the danger posed to the public before officers were ultimately able to stop the vehicle using a PIT maneuver on Highway 8 East near Beaver Creek Road.
According to prosecutors, during the pursuit a firearm was pointed out of the vehicle’s window toward a squad car driven by Rhinelander Police Captain Chad Brown.
All three defendants were back in court Friday afternoon to learn their formal charges.
Daniels, described in court as a 2026 graduate of Rhinelander High School, was the only defendant who had counsel present. Defense attorney David Casey asked that the $150,000 cash bond in his case be modified to $10,000 cash with a $140,000 surety bond to be signed by family members. Casey also asked that the court impose a strict curfew on Daniels, who he noted does not have a criminal record. The state opposed the modification and the judge agreed, citing the aggravated nature of a daytime shooting in a busy park and the triple-digit speeds through city streets. Hammer and Polar appeared without representation. They were advised to contact the public defender’s office ahead of their next court date. All three are due back in court on June 9.
According to a summary included with three complaints, a law enforcement officer saw the three men firing shots toward Boom Lake from the baseball field. He attempted to arrest them but they left the scene, triggering the chase. The summary states that the suspect vehicle “cut in and out of traffic and nearly caused multiple accidents.” The summary also notes that seven spent shell casings were found at the park, a 9 mm handgun was recovered from the vehicle and Brown reported seeing a green light below the barrel of the gun where a laser would be located. Hammer is believed to have pointed the weapon at Brown’s squad car, according to the summary. Police reports state that all three smelled heavily of intoxicants upon arrest.
A preliminary breath test administered to Hammer showed a blood alcohol level of .231, the summary states. Evidentiary blood draws were done on both Daniels and Poler but the results are still pending. The summary also includes non-attributed statements indicating that during the chase members of the group were expressing a willingness to shoot cops if necessary.
Hammer was the only one of the three to speak during the hearings Friday. Despite being warned that any comments could be used against him, he told the court he was very sorry for his actions and wants forgiveness. “I just want forgiveness, that’s all I want,” he said.