Activist Vaun Mayes To Be Released; Charges 'On Hold': DA

MILWAUKEE, WI — Community activist Vaun Mayes will be released from the Milwaukee County Jail Tuesday afternoon without being formally charged, Milwaukee County Chief Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern said Tuesday afternoon.

In a message to local media, Lovern said the Milwaukee Police Department presented their charging recommendations to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office earlier Tuesday, claiming Mayes either trespassed or burglarized a home on the 2100 block of N. 40th Street in Milwaukee on June 23.

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Lovern said the District Attorney's office reviewed the charging recommendations made by Milwaukee police, and decided to "pend it for additional review in the weeks ahead."

The move means the District Attorney's office is neither dismissing the charging recommendations nor acting upon them.

Earlier Tuesday, members of the Community Task Force MKE held a press conference outside the Milwaukee County Jail to speak out against Mayes' arrest.

During the press conference, several people, including local activist Frank Nitty III, criticized the police department's detaining of Mayes.

"This is a blatant attack on a community leader who has done nothing but support and uplift the issues and concerns of those who live in Milwaukee and are looking for true systemic change," organizers wrote in a release early Monday. "The Milwaukee police department has a long history of targeting community activists and we would like to set the record straight as they continue to bring false charges against this leader of the community. The community knows that these are false allegations and we deserve answers."

Nitty recorded cell phone video of Mayes' arrest Monday near N. 51st Street and W. North Ave. In the video, you can see Milwaukee police officers take Mayes into custody, saying he was wanted on an arrest warrant.

Later on Monday, Milwaukee police issued a cryptic news release not naming Mayes, not listing the suspected charges against him, nor his alleged conduct in saying they arrested a "community activist" related to last week's fire and police situation outside a home near 40th and Lloyd streets.

Milwaukee police originally stated Mayes was wanted on suspicion of criminal trespassing and burglary.

So far, those recommended charges are on hold.