Retail theft at West Allis Kohl's leads to 8-mile police chase; 3 charged
John Farmer, Trayvon Borden, William Jones
WEST ALLIS, Wis. - Three Milwaukee men have been criminally charged in connection to a retail theft and police chase. The incident occurred on Saturday, Dec. 28. Prosecutors have charged Trayvon Borden, William Jones, and John Farmer.
John Farmer, 62, is charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety, operating a motor vehicle to flee or in an attempt to elude an officer, and misdemeanor retail theft (as party to a crime). Trayvon Border, 28, is charged with misdemeanor retail theft and bail jumping. William Jones, 32, is charged with misdemeanor retail theft.
An arrest warrant has been issued for William Jones.
Retail theft
According to the criminal complaint, on Saturday, Dec. 28 at approximately 8:52 p.m., officers were dispatched to the Kohl's store on 108th Street in West Allis for the report of a retail theft.
The assistant manager of the store reported that she observed two men concealing merchandise. Both men left the store without paying for the items, the complaint states.
One of the men went to a maroon sedan waiting in the parking lot and placed a backpack he was carrying in the sedan, then both men went southbound towards Pick 'n Save.
Per the complaint, when the police arrived, both men ran back to the waiting sedan, and left the scene. The officer pursued the vehicle.
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Police chase
Court filings say the sedan exited onto S. 108th Street, turned westbound on W. Cleveland Avenue, and accelerated up to 95 mph.
Just east of 124th Street, the sedan swerved around a bystander’s vehicle and lost control, spinning out across the intersection of 124th and Cleveland, the complaint states. The fleeing driver then headed westbound into Waukesha County.
After approximately eight miles, the officer successfully performed a PIT maneuver on the fleeing vehicle. All three occupants ran from the scene.
The getaway driver, who did not enter Kohl's, was identified as John Farmer. The two passengers accused of entering Kohl's and committing the retail thefts were identified as Trayvon Borden and William Jones.
Per the complaint, a search of the vehicle found the stolen merchandise from Kohl’s Department Store. The total value of the stolen merchandise was $444.77.
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In custody
An arrest warrant has been issued for William Jones. John Farmer and Trayvon Borden made their initial appearances in court on Jan. 2. Farmer is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 8. Borden is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on Jan. 8.
According to the complaint, while committing this offense, Trayvon Borden was subject to conditions of bond from Milwaukee County. In that case, Borden was charged with the misdemeanor offense of retail theft. He was released from custody on a $1,200 signature bond, but given conditions of release. One of his conditions of release was that he commit no new crimes. Said bond was still in effect at the time of the above offense.
Additionally, both Trayvon Borden and William Jones had arrest warrants from out-of-state jurisdictions. Borden has an active arrest warrant from Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, while Jones has an active warrant by the US Marshals from Minnesota.