Milwaukee police officer shoots, kills wanted suspect during chase

MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee police officer shot and killed a wanted suspect, who drove off from an attempted arrest with that officer holding onto the vehicle, on the city's south side Thursday morning, March 12.

Police shooting

What we know:

It started around 10 a.m. Milwaukee Police Department Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said officers and a Wisconsin Department of Corrections agent encountered the suspect, identified as a 35-year-old man, in a flatbed truck near 12th and Burnham.

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The officer ordered the suspect out of the vehicle, but Norman said the suspect refused. The suspect sped away when the officer tried to remove the suspect from the vehicle, fleeing as the officer held onto the driver's door.

Norman said the suspect drove for several blocks and refused multiple orders from the officer, who was still holding onto the door, to pull over – even when the officer said he would shoot the suspect if he did not stop. Another officer was in pursuit.

The officer who was holding onto the vehicle shot the suspect, ending the pursuit near 15th and Grant. The suspect died. A passenger in the flatbed truck was not injured but was taken to a hospital out of an abundance of caution.

"This was a totally avoidable incident. At the end of the day, this could have been prevented. There is a time and place, when you have a disagreement with law enforcement, to be able to have your day in court," Norman said. "The court is not on these streets."

What's next:

Norman said the officer, a 46-year-old man with more than 21 years of service, was treated for non-fatal injuries. He has been placed on administrative duty, which is routine.

The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team will investigate the shooting, with the West Allis Police Department serving as the lead agency.

Suspect identified

What we know:

Through his family, FOX6 News identified the suspect as 35-year-old Jonathan Otto. The family said he had two kids.

His mother questioned why the situation escalated to a shooting.

"Yeah, he should've stopped and that did not deserve the shooting in his head," said Tracy Broyld, Ottoman’s mother. "I really want to know why. Why the gun, why not the taser? Why were you so quick to pull out the gun in?"

For Ottoman’s family, the loss has been devastating.

"He's a very good person. He will do anything for anybody," his mother said. "He's a daddy. He's a brother. He is my oldest child. He didn't deserve it. He did not deserve it."

Witness Ana Rios described the moment the truck passed by.

"We see his truck driving very fast with the cop from the window," said Rios. "He was screaming at the driver to stop. It was actually pretty shocking."

Official statements

What they're saying:

In a statement on its Facebook page, the Milwaukee Police Association wrote:

Milwaukee Police Association President Alex Ayala and the entire MPA is thankful that the officer involved in today’s incident is expected to recover from his injuries. As with any critical incident, the facts will be reviewed through the independent investigative process and we respect that process.

According to information provided by MPD, the officer encountered a wanted suspect who refused commands to stop and drove away while the officer was clinging to the exterior of the moving vehicle.

Situations involving vehicles are among the most dangerous encounters officers face, and they can escalate to life-threatening circumstances within seconds.

This incident comes less than 24 hours after another dangerous situation for Milwaukee officers, when several officers and a K9 were treated with Narcan after exposure to a suspected illegal substance during a drug arrest. Together, these incidents serve as a powerful reminder that Milwaukee police officers face unpredictable and serious dangers every day while protecting this community.

The Milwaukee Police Association stands behind the men and women of the Milwaukee Police Department who are asked to confront these risks on behalf of the public. We are grateful the officer involved today is safe and we will continue to support our officers as the investigation moves forward.

Editor's note: This story was updated to include new information.

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