Milwaukee police say a car intentionally struck an officer during a foot chase Tuesday
Milwaukee police believe one of its officers was intentionally hit by a car Tuesday as he chased after a suspect connected to a drug and illegal firearms investigation.
The incident began with a car chase on the city’s north side until the suspect vehicle collided with an uninvolved car, Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said at the scene. A foot pursuit continued from there until one of two officers was struck by another vehicle believed to be driven by an associate of the man fleeing by foot.
The second officer, who was not struck, then opened fire on the second vehicle, but it fled the scene. It was not immediately clear if the gunfire struck the car or its driver, Norman said.
He said the actions of the driver “looked very intentional” to police who witnessed it.
“I’m not happy with this,” Norman said. “This is a situation where we are engaging in protecting our community and there are individuals who are more interested in helping those who are creating harm to our community rather than supporting those who are out there putting their lives on the line for our community.”
The officer who was struck by the car is a 29-year-old who was hospitalized with serious but nonfatal injuries. The detective who opened fire, a 33-year-old with 15 years of experience, has been placed on administrative duty.
The driver of the car that collided with the fleeing vehicle was also hospitalized with minor injuries, Norman said.
The arrested suspect is a 29-year-old man, Norman said, and charges are expected to be forwarded to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office in the coming days.
He said the driver of the second vehicle has not been located, but noted that police have "some great leads."
The incident comes within a month after Milwaukee police officers were shot at in two separate incidents, which both resulted in officers returning fire and killing a suspect. No injuries to police were reported.
Earlier this year, in January, two Milwaukee police officers and one Milwaukee County Sheriff’s deputy were also shot and injured in separate incidents. And in February, a man walked inside of Milwaukee police’s District Five station and opened fire, injuring no one.
The series of events Tuesday began shortly before noon. Police were conducting surveillance on a home on the 4100 block of Eggert Place in the Old North Milwaukee neighborhood that was suspected of having illegal guns and drugs, Norman said.
Officers then observed a 29-year-old suspect exit the home and get in a vehicle. Shortly after, officers conducted a traffic stop.
Norman said the suspect initially pulled over in the 5000 block of North 42nd Street but soon after sped off.
A pursuit then began, but it ended when the suspect collided with the uninvolved vehicle in the 4000 block of West Villard Avenue.
The foot chase then ensued, and despite one officer being struck by a vehicle, Norman said the first suspect was arrested. A firearm that he discarded during the car chase was recovered.
Contact Elliot Hughes at elliot.hughes@jrn.com or 414-704-8958. Follow him on Twitter @elliothughes12.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A Milwaukee officer was intentionally hit by a car, police say
