Jeffrey Strasser charged with fleeing an officer

MILWAUKEE -- Jeffrey Strasser of Racine is now charged with fleeing an officer. This in connection with an incident in downtown Milwaukee in April 2012. Strasser was also cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

According to the criminal complaint, Strasser was behind the wheel of a black Lamborghini on Thursday, April 12th. An officer saw Strasser take off from the curb, squealing the tires and heading westbound on Juneau Ave. from Water St. The Lamborghini did not have its lights on.

The complaint indicates a pursuit was underway. At one point, the Lamborghini was estimated to be traveling 60 miles-per-hour in a 30 mph zone. Strasser did not pull over for officers in pursuit.

Eventually the exotic car pulled into a parking lot at Juneau and Water. The complaint says Strasser refused to unlock the car at first. Once the door opened up, he also refused to show his hands. The complaint says that's when Strasser was physically removed from the car and placed under arrest.

The incident was captured on cell phone video. The video shows Strasser being struck by an officer after Strasser was removed from the car.

Strasser's blood alcohol content was .19 -- or more than three times the legal limit for driving.

If convicted of the charge, Strasser faces up to nine months in prison and $10,000 in fines.

Milwaukee police have also concluded their internal investigation into the videotaped arrest of Strasser. The investigation concluded Officer Eric Ratzmann was justified in the use of focused strikes to Strasser. No citizen complaint was ever filed regarding the arrest.

Officer Ratzmann will receive policy training regarding the use of profanity during the incident.

Below is a review of the arrest and the cell phone video by Randy Revling, an expert instructor and training of defense and arrest tactics for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

Revling says the amateur video and lack of injuries to Strasser's face prove the officer's strikes were to Strasser's shoulder -- not to his head.

FOX6 News spoke with Revling, who re-iterated what he told Milwaukee police. Revling believes Strasser drunkenly reaching toward his belt and refusing to show his hands indicated the threat of a weapon to Officer Ratzmann.

"It's the actions of the subject that justifies the actions of the officer," Revling said.

FOX6 News attempted to speak with Strasser, Strasser's attorney and Milwaukee police about this case, and none were available for comment.

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