17-year-old from Milwaukee faces multiple charges after high-speed pursuit ends in Washington Co.
Donte Johnson
MILWAUKEE -- 17-year-old Donte Johnson of Milwaukee is now charged in connection with an incident in which he was allegedly driving a stolen vehicle and led authorities on a high-speed pursuit into Washington County.
Johnson faces the following charges:
According to the criminal complaint, Milwaukee police officers in plain clothes in an undercover squad were monitoring a car near 24th and Chambers shortly after midnight on June 2nd. The car was reported stolen the day before on Milwaukee's south side. At one point, the officers "observed five black males enter the vehicle."
Shortly after the five males got into the car and began driving, "a traffic stop was initiated by a marked Milwaukee Police Department squad car." But the vehicle "failed to pull over, increased speed, and a high-speed pursuit ensued." The complaint indicates the vehicle ran multiple stop signs and red lights, drove on the wrong side of the road and the headlamps were turned off.
One officer reported seeing the vehicle on N. 107th Street -- traveling at a high rate of speed -- approximately 80 miles-per-hour. At that point, a marked squad with lights and sirens activated was approaching the stolen vehicle from the opposite direction. The officer "was forced to swerve to avoid a head on collision." The complaint indicates the squad left the roadway and got stuck.
According to the complaint, the vehicle was later located by other squads fleeing westbound on Bradley Road on its way to Highway 145. That vehicle ended up being abandoned on Highway 164 in Richfield.
The criminal complaint says "the doors were left open and the vehicle running with the front tire flat." An officer indicated "the fleeing vehicle exceeded speeds of 110 mph during the pursuit."
The Washington County Sheriff's Office called in deputies to help the Milwaukee Police Department in this case -- as all five people in the car fled on foot. They were eventually located "after a call to 911 by a concerned citizen."
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The complaint indicates Johnson was "the person (officers) saw driving the stolen...vehicle." All five were taken into custody.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett shared the following background information about the five suspects accused in this case shortly after this crime:
Suspect one is 15 years old who had been released on county supervision for two counts of armed robbery. On April 18th of this year, a warrant was issued for being AWOL from county supervision.
Suspect two is also 15 and on county supervision for operating a vehicle without owner’s consent and resisting arrest.
Suspect three is 17 and had fingerprints found on a stolen car.
Suspect four is 15 and was charged with armed robbery on March 26th of this year and listed as missing from the Carmelite Group on May 30th. An arrest warrant was issued on May 31st.
Suspect Five is 15 and was arrested on May 10th of this year for carjacking/operating without owners consent by Brown Deer police. Suspect is on county probation for car theft.
From January 1, 2015 to May 16, 2016, (16-and-a-half months) 483 juveniles have been involved in 703 arrests for operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent – car theft. During this time frame, 130 juveniles, age 16 or younger, were arrested two or more times; 27 juvenile offenders were arrested four or more times and two offenders were arrested six times.
One suburban state lawmaker says this case is an example of crime in Milwaukee spilling over into the suburbs.
Prosecutors say Johnson could have ties to nearly a half-dozen other crimes.
The first-degree recklessly endangering safety charge is the most serious of the charges Johnson faces in this case.
If convicted on that charge, Johnson could spend up to 12-and-a-half years in prison and and have to pay $25,000 in fines.