Mother, Sisters of Alvin Cole Arrested During Wauwatosa Protest

WAUWATOSA, WI— The mother and other siblings of a 17-year-old shot to death by a police officer were arrested Thursday night by Wauwatosa police. The arrests came after police enforced people who violated the 7 p.m. curfew. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Tracy, Taleavia and Tristiana Cole were arrested after 9 p.m. near Wauwatosa and Milwaukee avenues.

Cole family attorney, Kimberly Motley, told Patch, Tracy Cole, Alvin's mother, was in the hospital after being arrested.

Wauwatosa Police posted on Facebook, "One of the individuals arrested, a 49 year-old female, requested medical attention. Wauwatosa Fire Department was promptly summoned, and this individual was transported to the hospital." It is not confirmed if Tracy Cole was this person and why the woman needed medical attention.

The Peoples Revolution of Milwaukee, part of the Black Lives Matter movement, released the following statement on social media:

Moments ago, the Wauwatosa Police Department, with the assistance of the National Guard and surrounding agencies, arrested numerous peaceful protestors in Wauwatosa. Amongst those arrested were the mother of Alvin Cole - Tracy Cole, his two sisters - Taleavia and Tristian Cole, and Tiffany Henry.

It is despicable that the Wauwatosa Police Department would arrest the members of the family of Alvin Cole, who their officer killed. The police, while arresting Tracy Cole, used such excessive force pulling her out of her vehicle that she was transported to the hospital by ambulance.

National Guard soldiers directly engaged protestors and assisted with arrests, which is a first for protests in Wisconsin. This how Wauwatosa treats protestors. These disgusting acts of police violence inflicted upon the grieving families of victims of police violence are the clearest example of the abuses, injustice, and cruelty we all are marching to end.

This is wrong and unacceptable, and the City of Wauwatosa and the State of Wisconsin must answer for this."

Protests and unrest followed Wednesday's news that suspended Wauwatosa Police Joseph Mensah will not face charges in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Alvin Cole at the Mayfair Mall in February. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm made the announcement Wednesday after meeting with Cole's family and attorney.

During Thursday night, Wauwatosa Police has been posting updates on Facebook.

9:22 p.m.: One of the individuals arrested, a 49-year-old female, requested medical attention. Wauwatosa Fire Department was promptly summoned, and this individual was transported to the hospital.

8:35 p.m.: Law Enforcement has made several arrests of members from a crowd violating lawful orders. We ultimately want voluntary compliance of the emergency curfew.

7:44 p.m.: Police and National Guard are monitoring a group of demonstrators moving through Wauwatosa streets near N. 67 St. / W. North Av. There is a 7 p.m. curfew that all of these demonstrators are in violation of. Our personnel are working to redirect the group.

Protests and unrest following decision

On Wednesday night pepper balls and tear gas were used during protests and unrest in Wauwatosa.

A state of emergency and a curfew was imposed in the city of Wauwatosa. The curfew is between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. each night beginning at 7 p.m. on October 7 and ending at 6 a.m. on Monday.

The protests were peaceful until later in the evening when a group "disobeyed lawful orders to disperse," according to Wauwatosa Police.

Police described an event as a large disturbance that caused property damage. At one point, people in a group began throwing large rocks at law enforcement and buildings in the area of Swan Blvd and North Avenue, according to police. Residents were told to shelter inside their homes and lock their doors.

Police said tear gas was used in the area of North 102 Street and West Melvina Avenue in an attempt to break up the crowd. Police also said they responded to reports of multiple people driving recklessly on the wrong side of the highway, driving over curbs and medians. Videos posted to social media showed apparent looting at a gas station near North Avenue.

There were also reports of graffiti on businesses and squad cars in the area, according to social media posts.

It is not known how many people were arrested or cited on Wednesday and Thursday night.

This story is developing.