Last week, Kewone Daniels, a 26-year-old Milwaukee man, was charged with serious offenses after a dramatic attempt to elude police resulted in a high-speed chase and an officer being trapped in the backseat of his car. The police allege that the defendant, who had two active arrest warrants, carried out a reckless escape that endangered the lives of both the pursuing officer and the public, as reported by FOX 6 Now.
The initial encounter began when Milwaukee law enforcement responded to a report at the Comfort Suites near 118th and Silver Spring Drive, where a caller claimed property had been taken by Daniels. According to FOX 6 Now, the police attempted to arrest Daniels after he was lured outside under the pretense of returning the property. However, Daniels hurried to his car, ignored officers' commands, and started to recklessly accelerate the vehicle in reverse, forcing an officer to quickly jump into the open rear passenger's seat to "avoid the possibility of being knocked down beneath the oncoming vehicle's door and tires."
During the chaos that ensued, Daniels is said to have driven the vehicle at speeds near 90 mph east on W. Silver Spring Drive, as reported by WISN. The police officer, trapped in the back seat, continually ordered Daniels to stop the vehicle, all while keeping his service weapon aimed at the suspect. Despite this, Daniels persisted to drive erratically and showed no intention of yielding.
Later, near 92nd and Birch Avenue, Daniels is alleged to have opened the driver's door and bailed out, leaving the car to crash into a tree as it was still moving. The officer was trapped due to the engaged child locks and unable to initially exit the vehicle, as noted in court filings obtained by FOX LOCAL. Daniels was eventually found on foot by officers, missing footwear in the severe cold — his shoes later recovered in a grassy area near where he was apprehended.
Daniels faces multiple charges including first-degree recklessly endangering safety, false imprisonment, and fleeing an officer. The 50-year-old police officer involved in the incident sustained nonfatal injuries. As of now, Daniels has been charged and his initial court appearance is set, as reported by The Daily News Now, for further legal proceedings.
