Police: Off-duty MPD detective helps solve east side attempted armed robbery

MILWAUKEE -- An alert off-duty MPD Detective prevented a potential crime from taking place and helped investigators solve a recent attempted armed robbery, according to police.

Police say the detective was in his neighborhood near Murray Avenue and Park Place around 9:10 p.m. on March 4 when he saw a male subject looking into vehicles.

Squads responded to the area and the 19-year-old man had a mask on his face and a silver flashlight on him. The suspect was arrested for prowling.

When the suspect was brought to District One, MPD Detectives determined the suspect matched the same description of a person wanted in a February 28 attempted armed robbery in the area of Frederick Avenue and Park Place.

In that case, a male suspect approached a 25-year-old woman and demanded her purse. The suspect did not obtain anything and fled the scene.

When questioned about this offense, the suspect confessed to the crime.

Both cases will be presented to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office in the coming days for a review.