A tense argument in a car on a Wauwatosa street escalated into a midday police chase Tuesday, ending with a vehicle near railroad tracks, a foot chase and a suspect in custody. Police say it all started with a reported dispute between a man and a woman earlier that morning.
How the chase unfolded
According to Wauwatosa police, officers were called just after 10:30 a.m. to the area of North and Wauwatosa avenues for a report of an argument in a vehicle. Investigators say the woman left one car and got into another while the man followed. Both vehicles were later found near the entrance to Froedtert Hospital’s emergency department.
When officers tried to pull the man over near Elm Lawn Street and Watertown Plank Road, he allegedly sped off. Police say he lost control near State Street and Harwood Avenue, left the car close to the railroad tracks and took off running. Officers chased him on foot and arrested him after a short pursuit near Water and Blanchard streets, as reported by WISN.
Car ended up close to the rails
News helicopter video showed tire tracks cutting across snow and ice up to the railroad right-of-way where the car came to a stop. Wauwatosa police and local reporters have pointed out that dozens of trains roll through the city every day and that a stalled or stuck vehicle on the tracks can have catastrophic consequences. Officers urge drivers to get off the rails as quickly as possible and call 911 if a car becomes disabled. For background on local rail-safety concerns, see recent coverage from TMJ4.
Charges and next steps
Police said the suspect will be booked into the Milwaukee County Jail and that recommended charges for fleeing and eluding, recklessly endangering safety and bail jumping will be forwarded to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office. The department did not immediately release the man’s name or say whether anyone was hurt during the incident, according to WISN.
Police safety reminder
In the wake of the chase, officers reiterated a familiar rail-safety warning. If a vehicle stalls or gets stuck on train tracks, they say everyone should get out immediately, move away from the rails and call 911. A key point, they note, is that a second train can come through before the first one has cleared.
"So if a train passes you are not necessarily safe until you know there is not a second train coming," a Wauwatosa patrol specialist told local reporters in earlier rail-safety coverage. More details on those recommendations are available from TMJ4.
