Branden Bentley
MILWAUKEE - A 29-year-old Milwaukee man is accused of leading police on a miles-long chase with two children in a stolen vehicle. The accused is Branden Bentley – and he faces the following criminal counts:
- Operating a motor vehicle to flee or in an attempt to elude an officer
- Second-degree recklessly endangering safety (three counts)
- Obstructing an officer
- Bail jumping (felony)
According to the criminal complaint, Milwaukee police spotted on Wednesday, Aug. 27, a stolen car driving through a red light near 27th and Concordia on the city's north side. Officers activated emergency lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop near 26th and Townsend. But the driver of the vehicle sped away -- and a police chase was underway.
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The complaint says police pursued the vehicle for 4.66 miles and that the police chase reached speeds near 80 miles per hour. During the pursuit, the driver "disregarded multiple stop signs, drove on sidewalks, gangways, and in the wrong way of traffic," the complaint says. The chase ended near 45th and Marion when the driver, later identified as the defendant, fled on foot. An officer was able to catch the defendant "who actively resisted arrest and had to be tazed," the complaint says.
When officers returned to the stolen vehicle, they found a 28-year-old woman in the front passenger seat and two children in the rear passenger seats. The woman told police "the defendant told her to 'shut up' once the pursuit began," the complaint says. The younger of the two children had been crying during the pursuit.
What's next:
Bentley's bond was set at $10,000 during his initial court appearance on Aug. 30. He's due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 9.
The Source: The information in this post was provided by Wisconsin Circuit Court Access as well as the criminal complaint associated with this case.