Fatal Police Pursuit

Posted on 04/13/2022

DATE: April 13, 2022
CASE: Fatal Police Pursuit
AUTHORITY: Lt. Tim Kemps

WEST BEND, WI - Washington County sheriff’s deputies were involved in a fatal police pursuit in the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 13, 2022. The incident began at 12:29 a.m. after a deputy stopped a vehicle on Interstate 41 near Holy Hill Road in the Village of Germantown. The vehicle was initially stopped because the registered owner of the vehicle did not have a valid driver’s license. The deputy identified the driver as a 27-year-old man from Milwaukee and the passenger as an 18-year-old Milwaukee man. During the first contact with the occupants, the deputy observed a Glock handgun case on the front floorboard of the vehicle.

The deputy conducted a routine check of both individuals and learned the driver was on parole for robbery with the use of force and subsequently had a firearm prohibition. The deputy also learned the 18-year-old had multiple felony arrests and an active arrest warrant for his arrest. Due to the circumstances the deputy decided to have the occupants individually exit the vehicle rather than approach a second time. The driver of the vehicle then fled southbound on Interstate 41 and exited on CTY Y/Lannon Rd. The driver continued into the Village of Menomonee Falls and a Washington County Sheriff’s Office supervisor terminated the pursuit as it approached the Village of Lannon.

Deputies continued to check the area and located a crash scene on Lannon Road near Mill Road; 9/10 mile south of the location where the pursuit was terminated. The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and the passenger died at the scene. The Menomonee Falls Police Department responded to the scene and is the lead investigative agency. At the time of this news release, it is unknown if a firearm was recovered from the vehicle.

Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis said of the incident, “This is certainly a tragic incident where a young man lost his life. I extend my sympathy to the family for their loss. Pursuits are inherently dangerous for suspects, law enforcement, and for innocent citizens that cross into the path.” According to Sheriff Schulteis, “Police pursuits are a careful balance for law enforcement. We owe the public we serve to be as cautious as possible during these dangerous encounters, but we also are aware that the community expects that criminal behavior is held accountable. In this incident our deputies stopped pursuing the vehicle based upon the vehicle entering a higher populated area and topography of the roadway. The preliminary facts suggest the driver of the vehicle had ample opportunity to comply with the lawful order of the deputy, and that driver’s decision was the primary factor in the death of this young man.”