Father sees his son, wanted after three-day crime spree, on FOX6 News: "That criminal is my baby"



WAUWATOSA -- A father told FOX6 News he was "heartbroken" after seeing his son on the news on Tuesday night, June 7th. His son is one of two teenagers accused in connection with a three-day crime spree -- and the boy is now behind bars.

"I love my son -- and I'm afraid for him," Andrae Fredrick said.

Andrae Fredrick



On Tuesday night, Fredrick saw his son's face on FOX6 News.

"It`s heartbreaking -- and it`s more heartbreaking for me because it`s my son," Fredrick said.

Surveillance cameras captured his 13-year-old son and another teenager.

"I cried because that`s -- that criminal that you`re looking at is my baby," Fredrick said.



Wauwatosa police say on May 30th, shortly before 2:00 a.m., officers responded to a report of a robbery where a weapon was implied near 67th and Milwaukee Avenue.

"The female victim gave her purse to the subject after he demanded it," Lt. Brian Zalewski with the Wauwatosa Police Department said.

The suspects fled in a stolen 2004 Jeep Liberty with Wisconsin license plates: 651-PKU.

The suspects were captured a short time later on video surveillance in the area trying to use the robbery victim’s credit card.

Nearly 12 hours later, shortly after 1:00 p.m., an officer attempted to stop the stolen Jeep Liberty -- and the suspects fled from police and a short pursuit ensued. The Jeep was not located by officers.

Short pursuit of stolen Jeep Liberty by Wauwatosa police



Just before 3:00 a.m. on May 31st, police responded to a window smash burglary at UW Credit Union at 65th and State. According to police, video surveillance shows that the same stolen Jeep Liberty and, likely, the same suspects were involved.

On June 1st around 10:00 a.m., the stolen Jeep Liberty was recovered near 82nd and Grantosa. Four suspects were observed by a resident abandoning the Jeep and attempting to steal another vehicle -- unsuccessfully, police say.

Wauwatosa police on Tuesday released surveillance photos of the suspects in an effort to identify them.

PHOTO GALLERY



"When I see that picture, I don`t see this kid that`s on a crime spree. I see my baby," Fredrick said.

Now, rather than finishing up his eighth grade school year, Fredrick's son is behind bars.

"I would rather see him locked up than see him dead," Fredrick said.

Fredrick says he is a pastor who taught his son morals. The 13-year-old boy was once involved with church and loved boxing -- but something changed.

"I taught him how to make decisions and he chose to make the wrong decisions," Fredrick said.

Wauwatosa Police Department



Fredrick wants to warn other parents that something like this can happen to anyone. This, as he keeps the faith that what is happening to his son will change him for the better.

"It hurts me to say it, but he deserves whatever happens because I trust God," Fredrick said.

Wauwatosa police tell FOX6 News they have identified the other teenage suspect in this case, but he has not yet been taken into custody.

Viewers passed along a Facebook post from that suspect. In the post, he wrote that he saw himself on the news, and was trying to lay low.

FOX6 News stopped by his home on Wednesday but no one answered the door.