Milwaukee police chase of suspect stretches 78 miles
It started with a report of gunfire. Milwaukee police got a call Saturday about 10 to 20 gunshots being fired in a north side neighborhood.
Two officers went to the area and saw a man “drive recklessly” and speed on North 15th Street, according to a criminal complaint.
The driver then ignored a stop sign at West Concordia Avenue, so the officers turned on their squad’s lights and sirens.
The driver sped up, ignored “numerous stop signs” and reached speeds over 100 mph, the complaint says.
He did not stop for 78.8 miles — and police followed him for one hour and 38 minutes.
The complaint does not detail exactly where the man drove but said he finally stopped at North 15th and West Congress streets — about a mile from where the whole episode started — and ran from the car.
Officers caught the man, who was identified as Alvernest Kennedy Jr., and he admitted to driving, according to the complaint.
Kennedy, 29, has been charged with felony fleeing and remained in Milwaukee County Jail on Tuesday on $10,000 bail. He is due in court July 5 for a preliminary hearing.
Past federal gun charge
Kennedy has a prior conviction in federal court. He was indicted in 2015 on a charge of felon in possession of a gun and pleaded guilty.
Although the indictment doesn’t detail the circumstances of Kennedy’s arrest, another court document says he “ran from the police and dropped the gun which had been reported stolen in Texas.”
He was sentenced to 30 months in prison and two years of supervised release.
Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales emphasized the department’s pursuit policy at a news conference this week and also brought up the case involving Kennedy.
“This weekend, we had a very long pursuit and that’s the one I’m talking about where that person is in there facing charges, he’s on federal parole, this person — you can’t do this, you’re putting lives at risk,” Morales said.
In Milwaukee, officers can chase vehicles linked to violent crime and are allowed to pursue cars tied to drug dealing or reckless driving.
“We’re going to chase you,” Morales said Monday, later adding: “Who starts this? It’s that person that flees.”