A Milwaukee man is facing three felony counts after police say a 2.7-mile pursuit ended with his SUV plowing into the front porch of a home last Tuesday. Authorities identified the driver as 26-year-old Leonel Saavedra, and officers say they recovered a small bag of methamphetamine from the vehicle. Saavedra made an initial court appearance Saturday and is being held on $15,000 cash bond, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for next Monday.
How the pursuit unfolded
According to FOX6, the chase started after officers saw a Ford Explorer pass another vehicle in the bike lane near 13th and Lincoln and the driver refused to pull over. The criminal complaint states the Explorer hit about 50 mph in a 25 mph zone, blew through four red lights and four stop signs, jumped the sidewalk, and sideswiped a parked car before the driver lost control and slammed into a porch near Layton and Mitchell. Officers say the bag recovered from the SUV later tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed about 3.26 grams.
A pattern of risky pursuits
The Saavedra case arrives on the heels of a string of pursuit-related crashes that have many residents feeling on edge. Local outlets have documented several recent chases that also ended in wrecks, and TMJ4 reports that the Milwaukee Police Department has stressed that the "safety of all community members and our officers is paramount" as it reviews how and when officers engage in pursuits.
Charges and next steps
Prosecutors have charged Saavedra with fleeing or eluding an officer causing bodily harm or property damage, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and possession of methamphetamine, FOX6 reports. According to the complaint, Saavedra got out of the vehicle at the crash scene and told police he "messed up and had no reason to flee." He is due back in Milwaukee County court for a preliminary hearing next Monday.
Legal implications
Under Wisconsin law, first-degree recklessly endangering safety is a Class F felony and can carry a sentence of years behind bars, while fleeing or eluding that causes property damage or bodily harm can be charged at higher felony levels. See Justia and Justia for the statutes governing those offenses.
From here, prosecutors and the court will move the case through the Milwaukee County system. Next Monday’s preliminary hearing will be the first formal step in deciding whether the felony charges move forward.
