"Feared for his life:" Father of suspect speaks in wake of hit-and-run crash that injured 2 officers



MILWAUKEE -- The 18-year-old driver involved in a hit-and-run crash that injured two Milwaukee police officers is in custody, officials say.

Two MPD officers were on foot patrol near Sherman and Villard Thursday evening, July 20th. It was just before 5:00 p.m. near the Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education. That's when officials say one vehicle hit another, then the vehicle that was hit struck the officers -- and the driver of the car that caused the crash took off.

Officers injured in hit-and-run crash near Barack Obama School



The 18-year-old later turned himself in. His father tells FOX6 News there is a reason the teen drove off.

"He feared for his life. That was the first thing he told me on the phone. He said, 'I was scared Dad. I didn't know what the police was going to do to me," said Ladonesty Fowlkes Sr.

Fowlkes Sr. says he encouraged his son to do the right thing and turn himself in -- which he did later on Thursday.

"The police are shooting people and you got two officers down on the ground. You don't know if by the time backup gets there, they're shooting because they all look out for each other," Fowlkes Sr. said.

Fowlkes Sr. said police told him another car struck his son's before it crash into police -- and he still believes that.

"My son just turned 18; never been in trouble with the law before. He feared for his life. Look at that situation and I'm just hoping that the system don't railroad my son. I'm asking for my son to have a fair shake on this," Fowlkes Sr. said.

The 18-year-old is expected to face charges including second degree reckless injury, second degree recklessly endangering safety, and hit-and run. The car the suspect was driving was not stolen.

Officers injured in hit-and-run crash near Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education



Officials say three passengers inside the car were also arrested for duty to report-accident and issued citations.

MPD will present the case against the driver in the coming days to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.  The injured officers have been released from the hospital.

Officers injured in hit-and-run crash near Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education



 

The officers involved in this incident are both MPD veterans assigned to police district 7. They are a 54-year-old man with 14 years of service and a 43-year-old man with nine years of service.

Officers injured in hit-and-run crash near Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education