A high-speed police chase in Greenfield and Greendale ended Thursday morning near Southridge Mall when officers used a PIT maneuver to stop a stolen SUV, arresting five teens. The driver was 15, and the four passengers were aged 14 to 17. The pursuit reached speeds of nearly 90 mph before being stopped near Southridge Mall and West Edgerton Avenue.
How the chase unfolded
According to Greenfield police, the incident began around 10:19 a.m. when an automated license-plate camera flagged a 2021 Kia Seltos that had been reported stolen. Officers located the vehicle and tried to pull it over, but the driver took off instead.
The fleeing SUV sped south down South 76th Street, cut through the Southridge Mall parking lot and then continued onto West Edgerton Avenue. A Greenfield officer then used a PIT maneuver to spin the vehicle out and force it to a stop. All five juveniles jumped out and ran, but officers arrested them nearby, as reported by FOX6 Milwaukee.
Auto-theft trend in the Milwaukee area
The chase fits into a troubling pattern Milwaukee-area authorities have been battling for several years. Police and prosecutors have repeatedly noted a surge in auto thefts, with Kia and Hyundai vehicles hit especially hard, and juveniles frequently implicated in those cases. Public pressure on both automakers and local officials has led to talks about better security features and prevention efforts, as detailed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
What authorities say
Greenfield police told reporters that evidence found inside the Kia suggested the group was on its way to a Greenfield apartment complex, where officers believe they intended to steal additional vehicles. The department said it will refer criminal charges to the Milwaukee County Children’s Court Center, according to a written statement shared with local media. FOX6 Milwaukee published the department’s account of the incident and the expected court process.
Community risk and next steps
High-speed pursuits that tear through busy shopping corridors and parking lots put not just suspects and officers at risk, but also drivers, shoppers and nearby residents who have nothing to do with the chase. Police and prosecutors often have to weigh those dangers when deciding how to handle pursuit-related crimes and whether to push for tougher consequences.
The Greenfield Police Department has not released the names of the juveniles. Any future developments are expected to move through Milwaukee County’s juvenile court system, where additional details may surface in upcoming filings.
