A police pursuit of a stolen vehicle in New Berlin ended with an 18-year-old in custody Wednesday afternoon, Milwaukee police said.
According to the department, officers tried to pull over the vehicle around 3 p.m. on the 7700 block of W Leon Terrace. The driver refused to stop, triggering a chase that continued until the vehicle halted on the 10700 block of W Metro Auto Mall. Police said the driver then bailed out and ran but was caught a short time later.
As reported by TMJ4, officers found a firearm inside the vehicle. The Milwaukee Police Department said charges will be reviewed by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office. TMJ4's report notes that those initial details came from Milwaukee police.
MPD pursuit numbers and recent policy changes
The arrest comes as Milwaukee continues to wrestle with how often officers engage in vehicle pursuits. Fire and Police Commission reports show the department recorded nearly 970 pursuits in 2025, with a sizable share involving crashes and injuries, according to the City of Milwaukee.
City meeting materials and procedural documents also show the department revised its vehicle-pursuit procedure, known as SOP 660, earlier this year, narrowing when officers may initiate chases in policy language available on Milwaukee Legistar.
Why pursuits matter
Experts and local reporting note that pursuits are among policing's riskiest everyday activities, and recent pursuit-related crashes in Milwaukee have raised concerns about bystander injuries and deaths. Coverage from WUWM and Wisconsin Watch details the ongoing debate over whether chases should be restricted mainly to suspects in violent felonies.
What happens next
Milwaukee police said the 18-year-old was taken into custody and that charges will be reviewed by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office, as reported by TMJ4.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office, which makes prosecution decisions for crimes in Milwaukee County, will determine whether to file formal charges. More information about the office is available via the Milwaukee County District Attorney site.
