Two masked riders on electric scooters spent about 15 minutes late Tuesday turning the area beneath the Zoo Interchange in West Allis into their own fireworks show, then led police on a brief pursuit that ended with two 17-year-old boys in custody. Neighbors told 911 operators that the fireworks were being shot at people and said one device nearly struck a man before detonating inside his car. West Allis officers say they attempted to stop the duo and at one point tried to use a Taser on a suspect during the encounter.
Where It Happened
The activity unfolded near S. 100th Street and Schlinger Avenue, a residential stretch close to the Zoo Interchange where explosions rattled homes and car windows. A nearby resident estimated the barrage lasted about 15 minutes and called 911 when a firework nearly hit him, according to WISN. Police reviewed security-camera footage that they say shows two masked people riding electric scooters and setting off the fireworks.
Police Response And Arrests
West Allis police pursued the riders and took two Milwaukee teenagers, both 17, into custody after the stop, the department told reporters. Dispatch audio captured during the call included the line, "they are actively shooting fireworks at the caller. we can hear it in the background," which helped officers zero in on the scene, according to WISN. Officers also attempted to use a Taser on one suspect before completing the arrests, police said.
Law And Safety
West Allis' municipal code treats fireworks as a public-safety issue and folds fireworks restrictions into its fire prevention ordinance. The city regulates and enforces those rules under Chapter 6, Section 6.03 of the Revised Municipal Code. See the West Allis Revised Municipal Code for the ordinance language and enforcement details. Those local restrictions help explain why neighbors and officers viewed the late-night display as a public-safety hazard rather than a private celebration.
A Pattern Of Risky Stunts
Residents and officials said the episode fits a broader pattern of reckless scooter riding and late-night stunts that have popped up across the Milwaukee suburbs. Local stations have previously published dashcam and bodycam footage of scooter pursuits and police responses in West Allis and nearby areas, as TMJ4 reported. Investigators are reviewing footage and witness accounts, and it was not immediately clear whether prosecutors had filed charges against the detained teens.
