Pursuit Ends in Officer-Involved Shooting: Police

WAUKESHA, WI — Waukesha police say they were involved in an officer-involved shooting Monday night involving a reckless driver who fled police.

According to police, officers were on patrol in the 2100 block of Macarthur Road on Monday, Jan. 8 just before 7 p.m. when they attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a reported reckless driver.

Police said the driver, a 55-year-old man with a lengthy arrest record, attempted to flee from officers in the Westgrove on the Lake apartment complex. Police said the vehicle pursuit was limited to the parking lots and nearby roadways in the original area of the attempted stop and lasted about five minutes.

Waukesha Police Chief Russell Jack said that during the course of the police pursuit, officers were informed to use caution because the suspect may have been involved in an armed robbery.

According to police, the man fled from the vehicle and two officers chased him on foot. At one point in the incident, police say an officer feared the fleeing man was reaching for a weapon and was forced to shoot him to stop the apparent threat.

Police say the man was shot in the leg. Officers then rendered first aid and a tourniquet was successfully applied.

Police reported that no officers or other people were injured.

Police say the man was transported by the Waukesha Fire Department to Waukesha Memorial Hospital, and that his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.

According to Waukesha police, the suspect is a 55-year-old man that is currently serving a previous sentence while on active supervision through the Department of Corrections.

According to court records, the man has an extensive history of arrests which include armed robbery, drug violations, and several other violations extending back to 1982.

As of early Tuesday morning, Waukesha police stated that they are not releasing the 55-year-old man's name nor the names of officers involved in the shooting. Police did say, however, that the involved officers have between
three and seven years of experience. The involved officers have been placed on paid administrative leave per policy.

The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team (MAIT) is leading the investigation in collaboration with the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office.

Jack said that based on the preliminary information gathered at this point, he believes that the officers risked their lives to uphold their duties.

As police work with the Milwaukee Area Investigative team, they said more information will come available. It is not publicly known yet whether the suspect was carrying a weapon, or whether he had been involved in an armed robbery.

Image Via Shutterstock.com