A 21-year-old man arrested for battery near Fiserv Forum is now accused of attacking the Milwaukee police officer who drove him to the hospital for medical clearance, turning a single downtown arrest into two separate violent incidents in one night. Police say the officer was treated and released after the assault, while charges against the man remain pending.
The trouble began around 10:14 p.m. on September 13, when police say the 21-year-old assaulted a 63-year-old victim on W. Juneau Avenue, according to WISN 12 News. That stretch of Juneau Avenue runs through the heart of the Deer District, the 30-acre entertainment complex surrounding Fiserv Forum that packs in plazas, hotels and nightlife venues, per Deer District. The injured 63-year-old was taken to a hospital for treatment, the station's report notes.
Police then arrested the 21-year-old man for battery and transported him to a hospital as well, so he could be medically cleared before booking, the same account states. It was during that hospital visit that the man allegedly assaulted the officer who had brought him in, per police. The officer was treated at the hospital and released afterward, while the case against the suspect is still pending formal charges.
How a Misdemeanor Can Turn Into a Felony
The legal stakes shift dramatically depending on which alleged assault prosecutors charge first. Under Wisconsin law, simple battery causing basic bodily harm is typically a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to nine months in jail, but battery that causes broken bones or lacerations requiring stitches can escalate to a Class I felony carrying up to 3.5 years in prison, according to Grieve Law.
The alleged attack on the officer is a separate allegation. Wisconsin battery penalties generally vary with the offense and injury, according to Grieve Law.
The alleged assault took place during the hospital visit after police transported the man for medical clearance.
A Pattern of Violence Inside Local Hospitals
This is not the first time a Milwaukee hospital has become the scene of an alleged assault this year. In May, prosecutors charged a 36-year-old man with multiple felonies after he allegedly used a heavy power-tool battery to attack a physician's assistant inside Columbia St. Mary's Hospital, according to WISN 12 News.
Hospital settings have also been the site of friction between police and medical staff. Froedtert Hospital leadership later apologized after the hospital denied care to a Milwaukee police officer because he was carrying his service weapon at a FastCare clinic, as reported by CBS 58. Police union leaders have since pushed for strict adherence to officer safety protocols during hospital visits.
The Deer District is a 30-acre entertainment complex surrounding Fiserv Forum, with plazas, hotels and nightlife venues.
Formal charges against the 21-year-old have not yet been filed, and it remains unclear how the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office will handle the two separate alleged assaults. For now, both the injured 63-year-old and the officer have received treatment, while the suspect awaits a decision on charges that could range from misdemeanor battery to multiple felonies.
