City of Wauwatosa Incident Summary: October 7, 2020

Press release from the City of Wauwatosa:

October 8, 2020

On Wednesday, October 7, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office announced that Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah’s decision to use deadly force was objectively reasonable. At 7:38 pm a group of approximately 150 to 200 people entered the City of Wauwatosa at 60th Street and North Avenue.

They proceeded westbound on North Avenue to 76th Street and stopped at Wauwatosa City Hall. The Wauwatosa Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard were at City Hall upon their arrival. Around 8:40 pm, people assembled threw projectiles (glass bottles, large rocks, and bricks) at law enforcement personnel. The Wauwatosa Police Department then declared an unlawful assembly, announced this to the crowd multiple times, and directed them to disperse. The group did not follow this lawful directive and the law enforcement agencies deployed tear gas to disperse the unlawful assembly.
People in the crowd again threw projectiles (glass bottles, large rocks, and bricks) at law enforcement personnel. After continued non-compliance and refusal to disperse, the Police Department deployed paint balls and pepper balls into the crowd in self-defense.

The group then proceeded westbound on North Avenue to the area of 92nd Street where members of the group broke the windows of several residences and businesses.

They went north on 92nd Street and walked into the City of Milwaukee. The group made their way into the neighborhoods. Local law enforcement and National Guard were in the area to prevent additional unrest. There was one arrest made by the Wauwatosa Police Department for failure to follow police directions to disperse.

At approximately 2:00 am, a number of vehicles were driving recklessly in the wrong direction on N. Mayfair Road near Mayfair Mall. In response, the Wauwatosa Police Department deployed stop sticks to prevent further reckless driving.
There were no injuries reported of law enforcement officers or members of the group.

Wauwatosa is well prepared to continue to protect lives and property in our community. Curfew will continue in the City of Wauwatosa between the hours of 7:00 pm and 6:00 am each night, ending on October 12, 2020.

This press release was produced by the City of Wauwatosa. The views expressed here are the author’s own.