MILWAUKEE — Reckless driving sparked a police pursuit across Milwaukee's south side Friday morning, and people in the wanted vehicle fired on two separate police squad cars, though no one was severely injured during the incident.
According to Milwaukee police, officers responded to a ShotSpotter gunfire call near 22nd and Melvina around 2:40 a.m. Friday and spotted a person driving a vehicle from the area. Police said the driver was driving recklessly and officers tried to pull them over, but the driver did not stop.
During the pursuit, someone in the wanted vehicle opened fire on the squad car, hitting the vehicle. One officer inside the squad car returned fire, but they say they did not hit the other vehicle. The impact of the bullets disabled the squad car, forcing the cops to call off their pursuit.
Officers in another squad car picked up where they left off. During this second leg of the pursuit, a shooter in the wanted vehicle opened fire and struck this second squad car, police said. No officers in either of the squad cars were injured.
At some point, the people in the car stopped the vehicle, got out and tried to run away, near 33rd and Mitchell. Officers arrested a 28-year-old male, described as being the driver.
TMJ4 spoke with neighbors nearby who said they heard the commotion.
"Well I was in my home when I heard like cars go so fast and speeding so fast here in the street," Cesar Camargo, who lives nearby, said. "So I go out and look out my window and I see the police looking for someone."
Rebecca Wonders, who also lives in the neighborhood, had just walked her son to school when she saw the aftermath of the chase.
"After I took him to school I decided to take a walk and see what’s going on," Wonders said. "All of a sudden I seen tape and I’m like oh my God what did I do? I just walked right into a crime scene not knowing what it was and I’m shocked. I’m shocked."
The passenger, a 35-year-old Milwaukee man, ran away on foot and was eventually arrested after officers searched the area of 32nd and Laphem.
"There was a lot of cops looking for someone in the alley and in the street," Camargo said. "I was concerned with what was going on.”
"With this whole area being kid-oriented it’s scary," Wonders said. "I mean you never know what’s happening.”
Police said an officer was "struck by debris from the gunfire." But he did not need medical attention.
Police said officers found several firearms and suspected illegal narcotics, during the incident.
TMJ4 saw police remove this blue truck from the scene.
Wonders said the entire situation is concerning, especially since there are so many children and families in this area.
"I have two boys and there’s a lot of kids on both sides of the streets and I don’t want to see my kids hurt or any other kids hurt in the area especially, with kids going to school in the morning too," Wonders said.
Andrew Wagner, President of the Milwaukee Police Association IUPA Local #21, demanded in a statement on Friday that Milwaukee County Court officials deny bail to the two suspects in the case:
While most Milwaukee residents were peacefully sleeping at 2:30 am today, October 6, 2023, Milwaukee Police Officers
were standing guard and risking their lives when two armed criminals sought to terrorize the city and destroy that
peace.
While attempting to stop the vehicle, the armed occupants began shooting at the officers, narrowly missing them but
striking the squad and disabling it. Additional officers responded, driving toward the suspect vehicle in a high-speed
pursuit, all while taking fire from the suspects. All of the officers involved worked to apprehend the gunmen while being
shot at repeatedly. The armed suspects were eventually arrested.
These suspects showed no regard for human life, and in an attempt to evade capture, they tried to murder these police
officers. We now demand that our District Attorney’s office and our judicial system do their part and deny these
suspect’s bail. Bail should be denied based on their danger to the community and their flight risk as they recklessly
engaged in a running gun battle with police, without regard to anyone else that may have been in their line of fire. If
these suspects are willing to have a movie-style shoot out in our city, and attempt to kill four police officers in order to
not be held accountable, what is their likelihood of retuning to court for trial without incident?
We believe in a fair and just trial, but no officer or citizen should be put in harm’s way again by these suspects.
Milwaukee Police's pursuit policy
Milwaukee’s current police pursuit policy has been in place for more than four years and it allows officers to chase for a variety of reasons, TMJ4 News previously reported. First and foremost, when the driver has committed or is about to commit a violent felony, but it also allows pursuits when reckless driving or mobile drug trafficking is involved. Lastly, the policy permits officers to chase when the driver presents an immediate threat to the safety of others.
Prior to 2017, officers could only chase a car if they had probable cause the people inside were involved in a violent felony. Six years ago, Milwaukee’s Fire and Police Commission made changes to the policy to allow officers to crack down on a surge of mobile drug trafficking and reckless driving.
Full MPD statements:
On 10/06/23 at about 2:39am Milwaukee Police were in a vehicle pursuit that began in the area of 22nd and Melvina. During the pursuit the occupants from the fleeing vehicle fired multiple times at the police. Two squad cars were struck. No officers were struck. Police did return fire but did not strike anyone. The suspects exited their vehicle and fled police on foot in the area of 33rd and Mitchell. A 28-year-old male driver was taken into custody. Charges are pending review by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office. The investigation is ongoing. Police Continue to search for unknown suspects. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360, or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414)224-Tips/ or P3 Tips.
Milwaukee Police were involved in a vehicle pursuit that occurred on Friday, October 6, 2023, at approximately 2:39 a.m., on the 3900 block of N. 23rd Street. MPD officers responded to a ShotSpotter call and observed a vehicle fleeing the area. The driver was driving recklessly and officers attempted to stop the vehicle; however, the driver refused and a vehicle pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, an occupant of the vehicle fired several shots at the officers subsequently striking the squad car. An officer returned fire; however, it does not appear he struck the vehicle. The squad car became disabled at which time the officers were not able to continue to pursue. Another squad observed the suspect vehicle and reinitiated the vehicle pursuit. The suspects fired several shots at the second squad subsequently striking the squad. The pursuit ended when the vehicle stopped on the 1600 S. 33rd Street. The driver, a 28-year-old Milwaukee man, was arrested without further incident. The passenger, a 35-year-old Milwaukee man, fled on foot and was eventually arrested after a search on the 1600 block of S. 32nd Street. An officer was struck by debris from the gunfire; however, he did not require medical attention. Several firearms and suspected illegal narcotics were recovered. Criminal charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office in the upcoming days. We are not seeking any additional suspects at this time.
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