Two suspects sought after car thief rams into police squad outside Pizza Shuttle

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A Milwaukee police officer opens fire after a suspect drives straight toward a squad car, ramming it and pinning the officer's partner. The incident began around 1:34 a.m. Friday, April 10th under the Pizza Shuttle restaurant at 1827 N. Farwell.

It was back to making hot pizzas Friday afternoon.

"We had stopped taking orders and 2 a.m. and we close at 3 a.m. We had to call about 15 people who were delivering pizzas and tell them we couldn't deliver because of the problem that was encountered," said Mark Gold, Owner of Pizza Shuttle.

Just a few hours earlier things heated up in the parking garage of Pizza Shuttle. Around 1:30 a.m., police were investigating a stolen car parked under the restaurant on N. Farwell when moments later, two people...

"They had come in and stayed for a little while. When they left, went back to their car, that's when the altercation had started," said Gold.

When the pair got into the stolen car, the officers turned on their squad lights and moved up to make a traffic stop. That's when authorities say the driver of the stolen car, a black male in his 20's, looked at the officer, started his car and drove straight at the squad -- pinning the passenger officer between the door of his squad and the door frame.

"It's too bad. You don't ever want to see that happen," said Gold.

According to police, the other officer feared for their safety and shot at the suspect. One round hit the car, and the suspects took off.

Police say they chased the car with Wisconsin Temporary Plates L8542L, however officers lost sight of the fleeing car near 7th and Locust.

With more than a dozen surveillance cameras on the property, Owner Mark Gold feels they can be helpful.

"I'm guessing there will be a clear shot of their face coming and going," said Gold.

"Everyone is going to be looking because we need to catch the bad guys," said Sai Phetkhosa, nearby resident.

Nearby residents are glad police were in the vicinity at all hours.

"It helps that if there would be thieves or robbers are in the area it helps that police are looking," said Gold.

Police say the passenger in the stolen car is described as a black female in her 20's.

Neither suspect is believed to have been struck by the officer's round at this time.

The victim officer, a 35-year-old male with 14 years experience, was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Anyone with information on the vehicle or suspects is asked to call Milwaukee Police at 414-935-7211.