"They pointed a gun at his face:" Robbery victim helps police ID suspects minutes after crime



MILWAUKEE -- Police on Milwaukee's south side say they've been dealing with a rash of armed robberies during pre-dawn hours. But on Monday, officers responding to a call for help from a man robbed at gunpoint got a little bit of a break.

Police describe the hectic morning for the 49-year-old Milwaukee victim.

"They pointed a gun at his face," said Milwaukee Police Officer Eric Andrade.

Officials say the man was held up near 12th and Mineral before 4 a.m. -- while the man was on his way to work.

"Extremely shaken up," said Milwaukee Police Officer Jason Stachowiak.

Officers Andrade and Stachowiak handled the initial investigation while Sgt. Jason Waltz staked out the neighborhood. But none of them had to wait long for a break in the case.

"Sometimes they re-prey on the same victim," said Sgt. Waltz.

"The car approaches the intersection, approximately 25 feet from us and see them and points and says, 'That's them,'" said Officer Andrade.

Realizing they rolled up on police, the suspects sped off. A chase ended about 20 blocks later with officers eventually arresting four suspects. They include a 15-year-old girl, two 17-year-old boys and an 18-year-old man. Charges are expected to be filed in the coming days.

Milwaukee police hope to find out if the suspects in this case may be involved in any other robberies on the city's south side.