A 33-year-old Milwaukee man is still on the run nearly a year after a traffic stop in Greenfield spiraled into a 115 mph police chase that ended with his car wrapped around a tree. U.S. Marshals say Deshawn Lawrence fled the crash scene on foot and is being sought in the Milwaukee area.
The chase began last November when Greenfield police officers pulled Lawrence over near 27th and Layton, according to FOX6 News Milwaukee. Instead of stopping, Lawrence took off, leading officers on a pursuit that reached speeds of up to 115 mph. A criminal complaint says he got onto the highway and the chase resumed near his home on Milwaukee's south side before he crashed. The pursuit stretched from Greenfield onto the interstate and into downtown Milwaukee.
Crash, Then Lawrence Fled on Foot
Per U.S. Marshals, Lawrence lost control of his vehicle at high speed and slammed into a tree, then ran from the wreck before officers could take him into custody. Investigators later found large amounts of marijuana in the car, and DNA recovered from the airbag along with cellphone data helped police connect Lawrence to the crime, leading to the charges he now faces. A U.S. Marshal told the station that the general public is at risk as long as he's in the community.
Lawrence isn't a stranger to law enforcement. He has an extensive criminal past and was previously arrested in connection with a 2015 homicide, per the same account. A marshal said Lawrence has repeatedly been unwilling to comply with law enforcement.
Pursuits Carry Mounting Risk Across Milwaukee
The case lands amid a broader reckoning over how dangerous police chases have become in the metro area. Milwaukee Police conducted 970 vehicle pursuits in 2025 alone, resulting in 321 crashes and nine fatalities, six of which involved innocent third parties, according to a report presented to the city's Fire and Police Commission and detailed by Wisconsin Justice Initiative.
Milwaukee police released use-of-force and vehicle-pursuit data for the first half of 2026, according to WTMJ. Wisconsin lawmakers raised the stakes for drivers who flee in March 2024, elevating the charge from a Class I felony carrying up to 3.5 years in prison to a potentially harsher classification, with Milwaukee County prosecutors now routinely pushing for prison time during plea negotiations given the crash risks pursuits pose, per Milwaukee Criminal Lawyer. In Wisconsin, fleeing or eluding an officer is generally a Class H felony.
U.S. Marshals Seek Lawrence
U.S. Marshals are seeking Lawrence. The task force has a track record of large-scale roundups, including 2024's Operation Big Top, which produced 260 arrests and cleared 437 active warrants, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Lawrence is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, with tattoos on his arms and chest. Investigators are asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward, and marshals say tipsters calling the 24-hour line at 414-297-3707 will remain anonymous. A U.S. Marshal urged Lawrence directly to take responsibility for his actions.
Lawrence is featured on Wisconsin’s Most Wanted.
