A man from Milwaukee, Elenzo Harvester Jr., 30, has been charged with a string of felonies following a high-profile police chase that originated from a retail theft at a Best Buy in Brookfield, and ended on Interstate 94 in West Allis. The chaotic sequence began on Feb. 6, when Harvester allegedly stole four laptops, collectively valued at over $3,000, from the Best Buy store. The incident rapidly escalated to involve multiple vehicle collisions and a six-mile pursuit that was captured on body cam footage, which has since been made public. This footage shows the dramatic six-mile chase that Brookfield Police engaged in to try and apprehend Harvester, as reported by FOX6.
According to GMToday, Harvester is facing multiple charges including felony retail theft, two counts of fleeing police causing bodily harm, two counts of hit-and-run resulting in injury, and two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety. Moreover, due to a prior conviction, he could face up to 88 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
In the pursuit that ensued, Harvester reportedly maneuvered a white Chevrolet Traverse through traffic and at times into oncoming lanes, necessitating the police to perform several PIT maneuvers. As detailed by FOX6, the chase persisted despite the SUV losing its front tires, and only concluded when Harvester attempted to continue escape on foot after a successful PIT maneuver left his vehicle disabled. The fleeing suspect would ultimately be found hiding in the back of a tree service truck.
One Brookfield officer was left with injuries requiring hospital treatment after Harvester "intentionally steered his vehicle" toward the officer's squad car during one of the attempted PIT maneuvers, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and crash into a tree, as per the bodycam video reported by CBS58.
The captured laptops were later recovered from the disabled vehicle. A friend of Harvester, the initial driver of the Chevy Traverse, was detained but claimed no knowledge of the theft nor did he consent to Harvester taking the vehicle. Harvester, who police describe as uncooperative, is currently being held on a $125,000 bond. A court date is set for his preliminary hearing on Feb. 16, as per court records.
