2 Men Charged In Attack On Suspended Wauwatosa Officer

WAUWATOSA, WI —Two men have been charged in connection with the August 8 incident involving Joseph Mensah, the Wauwatosa police officer who is currently suspended from the force after being involved in the deaths of three men of color.

Police said a group of 50-60 people showed up at the officer's home on August 8 near 100th Street and Vienna Avenue in the Milwaukee suburb around 8 p.m., "targeting" him. Mensah, who was involved in three fatal shootings of people of color over the past five years, has been suspended from the force and the Police and Fire Commission voted this week to move forward with pre-hearing scheduling deadlines on the pending charges filed against him in relation to one of the fatal shootings.

Ronald Demetrian Bell Jr.,28, and William Deaval Lofton,23, were charged on Aug. 16 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, according to a criminal complaint.

Bell was charged with felony charges for second-degree recklessly endangering safety and battery to a law enforcement officer. Lofton was charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety.

A third man, Niles Mckee, 29, was charged with harboring or aiding a felon.

According to the complaint, a "caravan" of people arrived at a home in Wauwatosa where Mensah and another person were. The complaint says several people got into a confrontation with the couple and both people at the home were "assaulted by numerous individuals and sustained bodily harm."

Police reviewed surveillance videos and cell phone videos, and witness statements.

In one video reviewed by police, a person carrying a shotgun, who was later identified as Bell, joined the assault, the complaint says. Bell was holding a shotgun that went off and hit the doorframe of the home with several people, including Mensah, nearby, the complaint says.

Surveillance video showed a black Yukon GMC driving by with a person the roof. The video shows the SUV stopping to pick up another passenger, who was later confirmed to be Bell, the complaint says. The SUV had a missing driver’s side rear taillight, the complaint said.

On August 11, Wauwatosa and Milwaukee Police located the SUV and conducted a traffic stop for an equipment violation. Both Bell and Lofton were arrested, the complaint says.

Bell admitted in the police interview that he was the person with the shotgun during the August 8 incident, the complaint said.

Bell also stated that the gun was discharged while he was holding it as he confronted Mensah and another person, the complaint alleges.

"Bell agreed that his behavior was reckless and dangerous when he physically confronted Mensah while holding a loaded shotgun and that he put several people in danger when the shotgun discharged," the complaint said.

The complaint further says Bell admitted to striking Mensah and was aware that the group was at the location regarding Mensah's actions as a police officer.

Bell said he had been at other events regarding Mensah with the same group of people, the complaint says. He apologized to officials and identified both himself and the car seen in the various videos, the complaint said. He told police Lofton was the the driver of the SUV, the complaint says.

The complaint says Bell told police he received a shotgun from Mckee, a fellow protester. Bell gave the shotgun back to McKee who put it in a case and left, the complaint said.

Police searched McKee's home in Milwaukee but did not find the shotgun, the complaint says.

McKee admitted in a police interview to providing the gun, the complaint says. He said he saw Bell taking the gun which was loaded, the complaint says. Bell gave McKee the gun back and he put it in a case inside the SUV, according to the complaint. He also told police he was the person on top of Lofton's car, the complaint says.

The complaint alleges McKee became concerned police were looking for the gun and he contacted a member of group he knows on Facebook asking him to "hide the shotgun for a minute." He met with the person and gave him the gun to keep "until this blows over," the complaint said.

According to court records, a cash bond for Bell was set at $7,500. Bell's next court appearance is Aug. 24. Lofton's cash bond was set at $750 and his next court date is Aug. 24. McKee's cash bond was set at $1,500. His next court date is Aug. 24.