Rash of carjackings over two-day period: Now, three teens are officially charged
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee County officials have charged three teenagers in connection with a rash of carjackings and vehicle thefts occurring over a two-day period. Two of those charged gave statements implicating a total of five people in these incidents -- including two juveniles. Milwaukee police say between Tuesday, September 9th and Wednesday, September 10th, numerous armed robberies and carjacking offenses were reported across the city of Milwaukee. Police say these crimes had similar descriptions, and many of the vehicles taken were used in subsquent offenses.
Those facing charges include: 18-year-old Isiah Thomas of Milwaukee, 17-year-old Anthony Griffis of Milwaukee, and 18-year-old Rocarldo Chalmers of Milwaukee.
The criminal complaint filed against these individuals says police also took two juveniles into custody. The suspects were arrested after they fled the scene following a police pursuit on September 10th.
Police say Chalmers and Thomas provided statements in which they confessed to various incidents, and implicated their co-actors.
Thomas, Chalmers, Griffis and the two juveniles are accused of committing the following crimes:
Tuesday, September 9th, 6:30 p.m.: Jeep Cherokee stolen in the 1800 block of West Fond du Lac Avenue.
Sometime between 9:30 p.m. on Monday, September 8th, and 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 9th: Dodge Durango stolen, recovered in 5900 block of West Sherman Boulevard.
Tuesday, September 9th, approx. 10:30 p.m.: Police-involved pursuit of stolen Jeep Cherokee -- spotted in the 6200 block of West Lawn Avenue. The complaint says the Cherokee made 43 turns during the 14.75-mile pursuit -- not stopping for police at any time. The complaint says the vehicle ended up in a lot in the 6200 block of West Stark Avenue. Two juveniles were taken into custody.
Tuesday, September 9th, approx. 10:35 p.m.: Woman robbed of her Hyundai Elantra at gunpoint in the 3800 block of N. 44th Street. The complaint says the suspect vehicle may have been the stolen Jeep Cherokee.
Tuesday, September 9th, approx. 11:30 p.m.: Woman robbed of her Honda Accord at gunpoint in the 7300 block of West Potomac Avenue. The complaint says the Accord was observed in the area of North Bremen Street and East Locust Avenue just after 1:00 a.m., and it fled from police. The complaint says the Honda Accord was recovered in the 3700 block of N. 53rd Street -- and police found property from other victims was located inside.
Wednesday, September 10th, approx. 12:15 a.m.: Man robbed by five males in the 2200 block of N. 5th Street. The complaint says the victim told police the suspects arrived in a Honda Accord, and a Hyundai Elantra.
Wednesday, September 10th, approx. 12:41 a.m.: Woman robbed of her Volkswagen Jetta in the 1000 block of East Knapp Street. The complaint says the victim described the suspect vehicle as a silver, four-door vehicle -- containing four suspects. The complaint says Chalmers had the Jetta's keys on his person when he was taken into custody.
Wednesday, September 10th, approx. 1:00 a.m.: Group of four males robbed a group of three males at gunpoint in the 3100 block of N. Bartlett Avenue. The complaint says the three males were robbed of property, including cell phones, cash and their wallets. The complaint says during this robbery, shots were fired -- with some of the shots hitting a home on N. Bartlett. A bullet was recovered from a bedroom ceiling, according to the complaint.
The complaint says the phone stolen from the owner of the Volkswagen Jetta "pinged" in the 3100 block of N. Bartlett Avenue, during this robbery. The Jetta's owner had a "find my phone" application activated.
The complaint says a victim in the robbery in the 3100 block of N. Bartlett had the "find my phone" application as well -- and that phone "pinged" in the 3000 block of N. 30th Street -- where the Jetta was recovered.
Wednesday, September 10th, approx. 1:30 a.m.: Woman robbed at gunpoint of her purse and cell phone in the 3200 block of N. Bartlett Avenue. The complaint says the woman told police she was robbed by two males, driving silver vehicles.
Wednesday, September 10th, approx. 4:15 p.m.: Woman robbed of her Ford Edge at gunpoint -- in the 4500 block of N. 92nd Street in Wauwatosa. The complaint says this vehicle was used in at least two more robberies in Milwaukee.
Wednesday, September 10th, approx. 4:25 p.m.: Woman robbed of her purse and her phone at gunpoint in the 6400 block of West Medford Avenue. The complaint says this woman's purse and phone were recovered on N. 52rd Street -- with a stolen car and another victim's property also being recovered.
Wednesday, September 10th, approx. 5:40 p.m.: Woman robbed of her Acura MDX SUV in the 4600 block of West Medford Avenue. The complaint says the woman was walking to her home when she was approached by two male suspects. The woman says she was punched in the back of the head by one of the suspects, and the complaint says the second suspect grabbed the keys out of her hand.
Wednesday, September 10th, approx. 8:20 p.m.: Woman robbed of her Chevy Cruze at gunpoint, in the 6200 block of West Port Avenue. The complaint says the woman was parking her vehicle in an alley after dropping her kids off in front. The complaint says two suspects blocked the woman in, and demanded she get out of the car. The complaint says the woman was able to hit one of the suspect's with the car door -- eventually kicking him in the leg and taking off running. The complaint says the suspect tried to grab her by her coat -- but she pulled out of her coat and kept running. The complaint says this vehicle was a rental, and was equipped with OnStar. OnStar was able to disable the vehicle, and it was recovered in the 6600 block of N. 53rd Street. The complaint says the keys were located on the floorboard of a stolen Chevy Impala.
Wednesday, September 10th, approx. 8:30 p.m.: Woman robbed of her Chevy Impala at gunpoint in the 8100 block of West Medford Avenue. The complaint says the woman was parked, waiting for her six-year-old son to come out to her vehicle when a vehicle containing four male suspects pulled up. The complaint says a suspect held a gun to the woman's head, and her son began crying -- at which time she told him to go back inside. The complaint says the woman was wearing a security uniform -- and a suspect demanded her gun. The complaint says the woman told the suspect she didn't have a gun -- at which time he demanded money -- eventually obtaining her cell phone. The complaint says the Chevy Impala was recovered in the 4800 block of N. 72nd Street -- the key fob for a stolen Chevy Cruze found inside. The complaint says Chalmers had the Impala's keys when he was arrested.
Wednesday, September 10th, approx. 8:37 p.m.: Officers learned of an armed robbery involving a black SUV occurring in the 8100 block of West Mill Road. The complaint says a Ford Edge taken from a woman in Wauwatosa was observed headed south on N. 72nd Street across Hampton Avenue. Officers followed as the vehicle turned east onto West Glendale Avenue. The complaint says at N. 70th Street, a paper bag was thrown from the vehicle and it then accelerated rapidly. A police pursuit was in progress.
Officers were pursuing the Ford Edge with their lights and sirens activated, but it didn't stop.
Eventually, the complaint says the vehicle turned into a driveway at the north end of the block on N. 23rd Street. Several individuals then exited the vehicle -- fleeing on foot.
The complaint says the pursuit lasted nine minutes and for 9.1 miles -- during which the Ford Edge reached speeds of up to 90 miles-per-hour. Police say the Edge disregarded 10 red traffic lights and six stop signs.
Police saturated the area surrounding N. 23rd Street -- and eventually took Chalmers, Thomas, Griffs and two juveniles into custody.
The complaint says Thomas was found laying in the grass -- a handgun discovered near him. Officials say he had about $946 in his possession, along with two cell phones, two chargers and a gift card.
One of the juveniles was found sitting on a porch. The complaint says he was found to be in possession of three cell phones and cash.
The second juvenile was found hiding in a yard.
Griffis was found running through yards -- eventually hopping two fences into an alley. Officers ordered him to stop at gunpoint -- and he was eventually taken into custody, according to the complaint.
The complaint says Chalmers was ordered to the ground at gunpoint. He was found to be in possession of a pair of Michael Kors glasses, three cell phones, two sets of keys and a large amount of cash.
The complaint says Chalmers told police September 11th is his birthday -- and he wanted a car. Therefore, he wanted to "do as many robberies as he could" before turning 18.