Wauwatosa Police: 24 Arrested During Unrest

WAUWATOSA,WI— Wauwatosa Police, with assistance from other law enforcement officers, arrested 24 individuals during unlawful demonstrations on Thursday. Citations for violating an

emergency order were issued to 19 people, according to a news release.

Protests and unrest have followed the news that suspended Wauwatosa Police Joseph Mensahwould not face charges in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Alvin Cole at the Mayfair Mall in February.

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.

Additional charges may be issued after a review of videos, reports, and other evidence, the release said.

The National Guard members were posted at locations in these areas, no National Guard personnel participated in any of the custodial arrests, according to the news release.

Police are not releasing the names of those arrested until a complete, comprehensive review
of video, reports, and evidence is finished.

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.

The Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, which campaigns against police crimes committed primarily against the poor and people of color, has also said the father of Jacob Blake — who was shot by police in Kenosha — was also arrested in Wauwatosa.

Sgt. Abby Pavlik, Public Information Officer, told Patch on Friday afternoon that Jacob Blake Sr. wasn't arrested.

Pavlik said on Wednesday night one person was arrested and on Friday, 24 were arrested; 21 for various charges including the violation of the emergency order, resisting arrest and reckless driving. Three adults were arrested for looting in Milwaukee.

Wauwatosa Police haven't confirmed the names of people arrested in last night's protest and unrest.

Police said some people who were arrested identified themselves to local news media. There have been reports on social media two journalists were arrested but police said they don't have those answers.

"Once the investigation is complete, and all citations and charges have been determined, the police reports will be available," the release said.

According to police the following incidents happened on Thursday evening.

On October 8, at 5 p.m., a large group of demonstrators, both on foot and in vehicles, departed Merrill Park, 435 N. 35 St., in the City of Milwaukee, and proceeded to the area of N. 59 St. / W. Center St. Once there, they stopped, and waited.

At 7 p.m., they crossed N. 60 St., and entered the Wauwatosa city limits, in immediate violation of the emergency curfew order. At 7:02 p.m., law enforcement units declared the group an unlawful assembly, and made such announcements to the group.

The group, consisting of marchers and vehicles, paraded through Wauwatosa streets, honking car horns and blocking all directions of traffic. At one point, a group of marchers blocked in a van, which was determined to be an undercover police vehicle. Demonstrators attempted to gain entry to the vehicle, pointed a gun at the occupants, and threw rocks at it as it escaped the crowd. At that point, members of the protest group began going car to car, demanding identification from occupants.

At 7:48 p.m., a group of protesters broke away from the main group and attempted to force
entry to the Cigarette Depot on the northwest corner of N. 76 St. / W. Center St. Three people were
arrested and turned over to the Milwaukee Police Department. The demonstrators continued through a residential area, disturbing the peace all the while violating the emergency curfew order. Law enforcement, with National Guard, established a protective line in the 6700 block of W. North Ave., with the goal of preventing dangerous and destructive acts, similar to those that had occurred the previous evening.

After continued non-compliance of the emergency curfew order, officers began arresting
demonstrators for violating the order. One person was arrested in the 6700 block of W. North Av.
Another was arrested a short distance away.

After the first arrests, the large group of demonstrators broke off into smaller groups, moving to different locations in the city. At approximately 8:25 pm, law enforcement officers encountered a group of vehicles that were driving across all lanes of traffic, southbound on Wauwatosa Av., near Wauwatosa East High School.

Law enforcement deployed tire deflation devices to protect the motoring public from the oncoming vehicles. The occupants of these vehicles were all subsequently arrested for curfew violations. While most of these people cooperated when told they were under arrest, some refused to exit their vehicles.

Law enforcement officers forcibly removed those who refused to exit in order to effectuate the arrests. Several more people were arrested during this encounter. Two of the arrestees, a 49-year-old female, and a 28-year-old female, requested medical attention. Wauwatosa Fire Department was summoned, and they were transported to the hospital. They were released a short time later, and will be cited and/or charged at a later time.

These individuals made the choice to engage in public demonstration during an emergency declaration, which had been ordered with the purpose of protecting life and property during this tumultuous time in our community.

The arrests were made without regard for who these persons were; rather, they were made based on those individuals’ own decision to willfully violate the emergency order. We can appreciate the anger and frustration that exists among those closely affected by recent events. Moving forward, we ask that all citizens comply with the emergency order in place. This will ensure the safety of all members of our community.