Man Leads Greendale Police on High-Speed Chase with 2-Month-Old Unsecured in Back Seat

GREENDALE -- A 21-year-old Milwaukee man in the U.S. illegally was arrested and charged after leading police on a high-speed chase with his two-month-old child in the back seat of his car.

Jonathan Rodriguez-Morales, 21, Milwaukee, has been charged with fleeing or eluding an officer and second-degree recklessly endangering safety. If convicted, he could face up to six-and-a-half years behind bars.

According to his criminal complaint, a Greendale police officer observed Rodriguez-Morales 2003 Chevrolet driving in two lanes on 76th st. and nearly striking another vehicle.

According to the complaint, when the officer tried stopping his car, Rodriguez-Morales pull over near 76th and Grange, only to suddenly pull away at a high rate of speed. A high-speed chase ensued, as Rodriguez-Morales sped north on 76th st. at more than 60 miles per hour.

According to his criminal complaint, the mother of his child was a passenger, and their two-month-old child was unbuckled in the back seat. Rodriguez-Morales led police on a high-speed chase, ending at the Aurora Clinic on the 6800 block of W. Edgerton Ave. where it turned into the parking lot and came to a stop.

Officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop. The female passenger informed officers that they were planning on taking their child to the urgent care as she had a rash. The female stated that when the police tried to stop them, Rodriguez-Morales told her “not to freak out...I’m going to do something crazy.”

Rodriguez-Morales admitted to police that his permanent resident card and social security card were fraudulent. According to the complaint, he admitted to police that he purchased them in order to work and cash his paychecks.

A search of the vehicle revealed a glass pipe commonly used to smoke marijuana, a metal pipe and an aluminum baseball bat which were both located on the driver’s floorboard. A solid metal pick with a sharp point was located in the center console.

Rodriguez-Morales is currently being held in the Milwaukee County Jail on a $10,000 cash bond.

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image: milwaukee county jail