Police Identify Man Who Ran Over Officer At Kohl's; Is Charged

WAUKESHA, WI — Authorities say the man who ran over a Waukesha police officer and collided with a second outside of a local Kohl's Department Store earlier this month has been identified and charged in court.

Authorities say Thomas J. Chadwick has been arrested and charged in Waukesha County Court. Here is a summary of the charges that have been filed against him: two counts of recklessly endangering safety as a repeat offender and two counts of resisting an officer as a repeat offender. Chadwick is currently being held in the Waukesha County Jail on a $30,000 cash bond.

According to Waukesha police, officers were called to the Kohl's Department Store at about 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Waukesha for a person who was wanted by police. Police said they were tipped off that Chadwick was going to the store to steal clothing.

Police said they tracked Chadwick's car down, and began negotiating with him and a second person inside the car. As the officers asked the passenger to step out of the car, Chadwick pushed the woman who was behind the wheel out of the car, and then began fighting with the officers. According to police, the driver's side door was open, and two officers were attempting to get Chadwick out of the car.

According to police, Chadwick put the car in reverse at a high rate of speed, running over one of the officers and knocking over the other. The car then took off, and headed east.

Police say the car was later located in the City of Milwaukee. From there a pursuit ensued and went through the following communities: Cudahy, St Francis, South Milwaukee, Oak Creek, Greendale, Greenfield, Hales Corners, West Allis and West Milwaukee.

The police pursuit lasted nearly 65 miles, and ended after the West Allis Police Department deployed tire-piercing spike strips on the road to disable the car. Chadwick has now been charged, Waukesha police said.

Both officers were treated by the City of Waukesha Fire Department, one officer was transported to a local hospital. That officer has been released, police said.