West Allis police chase, Milwaukee driver accused
Dezmond Walker
WEST ALLIS, Wis. - A Milwaukee man is accused of driving recklessly and leading West Allis police on a nearly three-mile chase in residential areas early on Wednesday, May 8.
Dezmond Walker, 23, is charged with first-degree recklessly endangering safety and fleeing/eluding police – causing damage to property. Prosecutors said he hit a squad car as he fled.
According to a criminal complaint, a West Allis police officer was on patrol near 65th and Greenfield just before 3 a.m. Wednesday when he spotted a gray van. The driver was not wearing a seat belt. The officer activated his lights and siren and conducted a traffic stop.
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When the officer approached the van, the driver identified himself as Dezmond Walker. The officer then went back to his squad to run a check on Walker, and another officer arrived on the scene. During the officer's check on Walker, a Department of Corrections response indicated Walker had an alias of Devonte Walker. The officer approached the van and Walker confirmed that it was his first name.
When the officer asked Walker to step out of his vehicle, the "defendant argued, rolled up the window, and then accelerated towards (the second officer's) squad car which was parked in front of the defendant's car towards the driver's side," the complaint said. That second officer had just entered his squad moments before. The complaint said Walker "struck the driver's door while (the second officer) was in the driver's seat."
Walker led officers on a 2.9-mile pursuit at speeds near 90 mph in residential areas, prosecutors said. The complaint indicates there were other cars on the road, and the officers eventually lost sight of the defendant.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story indicated a warrant was issued for Walker's arrest. It was updated to reflect that he was taken into custody.