By Joanna Putman
Police1
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Dashcam footage released by the West Allis Police Department shows the dramatic moments leading up to a high-speed pursuit that ended with a car plunging off an overpass, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
The pursuit, which reached speeds of 115 mph, resulted in serious injuries and multiple charges for the driver, according to the report. The Aug. 25 incident began when a West Allis police officer observed the suspect speeding and driving recklessly. The officer initiated a traffic stop, but the suspect fled, accelerating to 100 mph in a 35 mph zone and ignoring red lights.
The pursuit continued onto the freeway, where the suspect reached speeds of 115 mph. Exiting the highway, he lost control while attempting a sharp turn, crashing through a safety fence and plunging 25 feet onto the interstate below, video shows.
Officers approached the wrecked vehicle and detained the suspect and his passenger, who initially refused commands to lie on the ground. An officer deployed a TASER to gain compliance, according to the report.
During the arrest, the pursuing officer injured his back near a fence and was later hospitalized with several fractured vertebrae.
The suspect admitted to consuming six beers and smoking marijuana prior to driving, according to the report. He faces three charges: fleeing an officer resulting in great bodily harm, second-degree recklessly endangering safety and operating while intoxicated causing an injury. If convicted, he could face up to 25 years in prison, a $75,000 fine and a three-year license suspension.
