Police: Teen gang member who caused five-vehicle wreck bragged about stealing cars

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A teen inside a stolen car led police on a chase that ended in a serious crash involving five vehicles near 60th and Capitol in Milwaukee -- and it all started with an armed robbery. Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said Thursday afternoon the 15-year-old who was driving the vehicle is a member of the "Wild 100s" gang.

The crash happened on Wednesday, April 15th, at approximately 11:20 p.m.

Police were chasing a car that was stolen in an armed robbery which happened near 97th and Keefe Avenue -- about three miles away from the crash.

Officers in a marked squad car located the car from the robbery using OnStar. When the suspect spotted police, he led police on a short chase that lasted about a half-mile.

"Within our policy, the police were chasing a vehicle they knew to be taken in an armed, violent confrontation," Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said during a press conference Thursday afternoon.

The pursuit ended when the suspect drove through a red light at 60th and Capitol and caused a crash involving five vehicles. One of the cars involved flipped on its side, another suffered front end damage, and another vehicle had rear end damage.

The 15-year-old suspect driving the stolen vehicle was taken the hospital with serious injuries. Chief Flynn said he was in grave condition -- saying he did not have a pulse and was not breathing at the scene, but an officer performed CPR and was able to bring him back.

"That officer clearly recognized his responsibility to save lives even as he was apprehending a dangerous criminal," Chief Flynn said.

Three other people from the other cars involved were also taken to a hospital. It is believed they will survive. Those victims are two women, ages 38 and 46, as well as a 34-year-old man.

A fifth person involved in the accident, a 41-year-old man, was not hurt.

Chief Flynn said Thursday the 15-year-old driver has been wanted since February on a probation violation. Police say he stole a number of cars and bragged about his escapades. Chief Flynn said MPD had had "extensive contact" with the teen and his family -- trying to get him away from gang activities.

"He stole a Porsche in March and was bragging about stealing cars. He had a case in 2013 where he pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle without the owners consent," Chief Flynn said.

Chief Flynn says in that case, the teen was sentenced to one year of low-risk probation, and he refused to wear a GPS device.

"The (Assistant District Attorney) recommended he go to Lincoln Hills School for Boys. The County Probation Department recommended minimal probation -- despite the fact that MPD has information he had gang ties which included crimes of violence and possession of firearms. Due to state law and policy limitations, the probation department did not compel him to wear a GPS device. He was allowed to refuse to wear a GPS monitor, as requested by probation. Because there is no juvenile violation of probation law, he pretty much has been unsupervised ever since. The fact is, where he is now is in no small part due to the fact that he has been functionally unsupervised and unpunished," Chief Flynn said.

A woman who didn't want to be identified said she catches the bus near 60th and Capitol twice a week. She heard about the pursuit and crash.

"It's just too much. God help us. Lord have mercy. It's so dangerous out here, it really is. You could be sitting at the bus stop and get killed. You could be standing over there and get killed," the woman said.

Milwaukee police are still investigating this incident. There is no word yet on any citations or arrests.