Man Who Stole Mailman's Car Tried Running Over Officer

MILWAUKEE, WI — A man accused of stealing a mailman's car, later tried running over police during a traffic stop before hitting several more cars and getting arrested.

Police arrested Joseph Washington after a foot chase. He faces more than 30 years imprisonment if he is convicted of all charges.

According to his criminal complaint, on Dec. 24, 2016, Washington reportedly broke into a Milwaukee postal worker's truck and stole the worker's car keys from inside the truck. When she got back to the post office, her 2008 Kia Spectra was missing.

According to court records, Washington faces the following charges:

• Take and Drive Vehicle w/o Consent
• 1st-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety
• 1st-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety
• Hit and Run-Involve Injury
• Operator Flee/Elude Officer-Bodily Harm or Property Damage

According to the criminal complaint, several Milwaukee Police squads responded to the area of Holton and Clarke at 2:30 p.m. They stopped Washington inside his stolen vehicle by parking at an angle in front of it. One officer stated that he immediately jumped out of the squad and drew his weapon as he approached the driver’s side of the Kia.

A second officer stated that he ordered Washington out of the vehicle multiple times at which time the Kia reversed striking the car behind it, the criminal complaint stated. The first officer tried to break the window of the vehicle with the butt of his gun and attempted to open the driver’s door.

According to police, as the second officer grabbed the handle of the driver’s door, the vehicle accelerated forward, dragging the first officer into the open squad door causing his head to hit the door. Washington accelerated toward the officer standing right in front of the Kia. The officer reportedly hit the hood of the Kia face-first and rolled off as the Washington sped away. When he came to, he was laying in the middle of the road.

Police reported that Washington didn't get far. Accordingto police, he struck a Pontiac Grand Am at E. Burleigh and N. Holton St. Since the Kia was severely damaged, Washington attempted to get away on foot, but was caught after a short chase.

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