A Milwaukee judge on Monday tossed the case against a 24-year-old man accused of hitting a cyclist in Walker's Point last summer, after key citizen witnesses did not show up for trial, according to court records.
On what was supposed to be the first day of trial, prosecutors told Judge Jack Davila they could not move forward without those witnesses. Davila granted their motion to dismiss the charges without prejudice, meaning the state can still bring the case back if it chooses, according to FOX6 Milwaukee.
The crash that sparked the case was caught on surveillance video. On June 16, 2025, a black SUV allegedly ran a red light at South 2nd Street and National Avenue in Walker's Point and hit cyclist Zane Staubach, sending him into the air while his bike became stuck under the SUV's front bumper, TMJ4 reported. Staubach was taken to a hospital with serious injuries and later began speaking publicly about the crash. Investigators leaned heavily on surveillance footage and witness accounts as they worked to identify a suspect.
Prosecutors eventually charged 24-year-old Isiah Colon-Johnson with hit-and-run, second-degree reckless injury and knowingly operating while suspended, according to online court records and news reports. Authorities said they relied on video and interviews to tie Colon-Johnson to the SUV, and the criminal complaint alleged the driver briefly stopped to pull the bicycle from the vehicle before taking off, as reported by WISN.
What the dismissal means
Because Judge Davila dismissed the case "without prejudice," prosecutors still have the option to refile charges if they can secure witnesses or uncover new evidence, according to FOX6 Milwaukee. Court records indicate the state's citizen witnesses did not appear for trial, and prosecutors chose to drop the case rather than proceed without them. The Milwaukee County District Attorney's office has not said whether it plans to try again.
Victim's message and next steps
Staubach, a regular bike commuter, told reporters he hopes "some good can come from raising awareness around unsafe driving" as he continues to recover from his injuries, which include a torn rotator cuff, TMJ4 reported. For now the criminal case is closed but not fully settled. Prosecutors still have the option to bring charges again if circumstances change or additional witnesses step forward.
