Sexual Assault Suspect Taken Into Custody

An 18-year-old Wauwatosa man who was being sought on sexual assault charges is now in custody after police found him sleeping at a friend's house.

At 4:58 a.m. Wednesday, Ryan R. Wirtz was arrested on suspicion of having assaulted a 15-year-old Wauwatosa girl in his car on Dec 2.

Wirtz was charged out of custody last Friday on a felony warrant accusing him of second-degree sexual assault of a child, punishable by up to 40 years in prison.

Police officers found Wirtz sleeping at a friend’s house in the 5800 block of West Michigan Street, according to their reports. 

Officers who picked up the case said they were familiar with Wirtz from regular police contacts and knew he frequented the east end of Wauwatosa.

The first sought him at the George Webb restaurant at 6108 W. Bluemound Road, where he had been working, but they were told he’d recently been fired.

They then checked with his parents at their home on West Martin Drive and learned that he was staying at the Michigan Street address. The homeowner admitted police to speak with Wirtz, and he was arrested without incident.

After booking, he was sent to the Milwaukee County Criminal Justice Facility.

The girl went to police on Dec. 4 and told a female officer that Wirtz had picked her up at her home in his car and that they had driven around drinking vodka. He pulled over in the 800 block of Honey Creek Parkway, she said, and they began kissing.

She told the officer that Wirtz climbed on top of her and against her will and over her protests, groped her and eventually forced oral sex upon her.