Suspect Steals Wis. Police Cruiser, Injures 4 Officers During Chase
What to know
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A suspect in a domestic violence incident with multiple warrants led authorities on two pursuits, stealing a marked cruiser and injuring four Wauwatosa police officers.
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The officers were struck while trying to apprehend the suspect, who had jumped into an unoccupied cruiser and sped off before he was eventually caught.
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The department is conducting an internal review and coordinating investigations.
A suspect with multiple outstanding warrants stole a marked Wisconsin police cruiser and injured four officers during two vehicle pursuits Tuesday.
The incident began around 10:05 a.m. when a Wauwatosa police officer on patrol in a mall parking lot observed a 26-year-old man who had been directed by mall security to leave the property, Chief James H. MacGilllis stated in a news release. When the individual attempted to return toward the mall entrance, the officer instructed him to continue leaving, and the man entered a white minivan in the parking lot.
A license plate check revealed the minivan had been involved earlier that morning in a domestic violence incident and vehicle chase with Oak Creek police, as well as a separate pursuit with the Brown Deer police. After locking himself inside the vehicle, the suspect fled when the officer attempted a traffic stop, and a chase ensued.
During the pursuit, the suspect crossed the median and made a U-turn. Additional squads tried to contain the vehicle, and police ordered the suspect to surrender.
The suspect exited the minivan and ran toward an unoccupied Wauwatosa police cruiser. As officers tried to apprehend him, the suspect entered the vehicle, put it in reverse and sped off, sending multiple officers to the ground and hitting an occupied police vehicle.
A second chase began with the suspect driving the stolen cruiser into Brookfield. He drove through residential streets and yards before the pursuit ended when he crashed into another Wauwatosa police cruiser.
The suspect fled on foot following the crash but was taken into custody after a brief chase.
Four Wauwatosa police officers were hospitalized following the incident. They were in stable condition, and their injuries weren't considered life-threatening injuries.
Authorities said the suspect had multiple felony and misdemeanor warrants, and the incident is under investigation. Wauwatosa police also will conduct an internal review of the incident, including how the suspect was able to take control of a police cruiser.