What started as a routine patrol near Harley-Davidson's campus on Milwaukee's Near West Side turned into an afternoon manhunt, after a stolen vehicle slammed into parked cars and its three occupants bolted on foot, leaving a trail of twisted metal and shattered glass along North 37th Street.
Milwaukee County sheriff's deputies and Milwaukee police officers swarmed the area around Davidson Park as neighbors described a sudden burst of loud bangs, screeching tires, and sirens, followed by blocks taped off while the search unfolded.
According to CBS58, a Milwaukee County deputy on patrol tried to stop a vehicle that had been reported stolen shortly before the crash. Instead of pulling over, the driver kept going, and the vehicle eventually slammed into parked cars, scattering debris before the three people inside took off running.
CBS58 reporter Ellie Nakamoto-White spoke with neighbor Johnnie Ashley, who said her parked car was totaled in the chaos. Standing next to the wreckage outside her home, Ashley told the station, "Thank God that I am okay." As of the outlet's afternoon update, officials still had not found the three people who fled.
Where It Happened
The crash happened near Davidson Park on Harley-Davidson's Near West Side campus; the park lists its address as 3725 W Juneau Ave. Harley-Davidson opened Davidson Park in 2024 as a public green space on its headquarters grounds.
Witnesses told reporters that car parts and glass were scattered across the street after the impact, and officers blocked off nearby blocks as they searched the neighborhood for the three people who ran from the vehicle.
Pursuits In Milwaukee: What The Numbers Say
The crash is unfolding against a backdrop of rising concern over vehicle pursuits in Milwaukee. The city's 2024 Vehicle Pursuit Report found that the Milwaukee Police Department engaged in 957 pursuits last year, that a large share of those hit speeds above 75 mph, and that roughly one-third ended in a crash.
The City of Milwaukee report, along with local coverage, has helped fuel an ongoing fight over how often officers should chase and at what cost to public safety. Public radio and watchdog outlets have been tracking those debates, with WUWM laying out the key questions and community concerns tied to recent pursuit-related crashes.
What Officials Say And Next Steps
As of the latest update, both the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office and the Milwaukee Police Department were still combing the neighborhood around Harley-Davidson's campus, and no one had been taken into custody. Investigators have not yet publicly identified the three people who ran after the crash.
CBS58 reported it was awaiting additional information from law enforcement. This story will be updated as officials release more details or images that could help track down the suspects.
