2 Arrested During Protests In Wauwatosa

WAUWATOSA, WI— Two people were arrested after a protest in a residential neighborhood in Wauwatosa on Friday night.

Several people took to social media to stream the protests. One video showed a man being forced off his bike by officers and tackled to the ground while resisting. The crowd was moving towards the scene of the arrest, according to the video.

State Rep. Jonathan Brostoff, a Democrat, attended the protest and live-streamed at least three videos. (A warning the following video might contain inappropriate language.)

Wauwatosa Police said while officers were making an arrest, they were confronted by protesters.

"The protestors attempted to prevent the arrest by physically engaging officers and blocking off routes, preventing squads from leaving," Wauwatosa Police said in a Facebook post.

Police said one arrest was made that will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office for charges. Police alleged the person was involved in numerous incidents over the past few days.

A second arrest was made for trespassing; the person was cited and released, according to the post.

"The City of Wauwatosa and the Police Department value the right to peacefully protest in public areas but picketing at a private residence or blocking streets is not permitted," the post said.

Tensions have been heightened in Wauwatosa over three fatal police shootings over the past five years that involved Officer Joseph Mensah, who has been suspended from the force.

The Police and Fire Commission was supposed to discuss Mensah's future with the department on Friday. Due to technical difficulties, the meeting was rescheduled for Monday. Mensah, a Black Wauwatosa police officer, was suspended after being involved in three fatal shootings of people of color over the past five years.

Police say he was attacked and shot at while at home on August 8. A group of 50-60 people showed up at the officer's home near 100th Street and Vienna Avenue in the Milwaukee suburb around 8 p.m., "targeting" him, according to police. Mensah was involved in the deaths of Alvin Cole, Antonio Gonzales and Jay Anderson.

Police said on August 8, a group of 50-60 people showed up at the officer's home near 100th Street and Vienna Avenue in the Milwaukee suburb around 8 p.m., "targeting" him.

The large group first vandalized the home and then became more violent, Wauwatosa police said in a news release issued Sunday.

Wauwatosa Mayor McBride issued a statement on a need for peaceful protests on August 13. This statement was revised on August 14 with two changes:

"1. Removes the protest hours of 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.. In taking enforcement action against lawful and legal protest activity, the City cannot treat those events any differently from other events obtaining special event permits, including block parties and local festivals, which can obtain permits allowing activity in the public arena until midnight.

2. A clarification that picketing is not permitted at individual private residences.

These modifications do NOT mean that we have called off enforcement activities or lessened our desire to lessen the unrest impacting the City of Wauwatosa at the present time. Wauwatosa police will continue to take a strong stance against unlawful activity which may occur, in relation to these protests or any other public activity which may be taking place in the City of Wauwatosa. While we support the right of the public to peacefully express their views through protest activities, unlawful behavior surrounding any such protest activities must be kept under control."