"We're dysfunctional:" Aldermen make example of teen arrested after chase, call for change to court system

MILWAUKEE COUNTY -- While out of jail on a signature bond, a Milwaukee teenager was arrested again. This, after a crash near 36th and Villard following a police chase. Police say he was one of three teenagers in a stolen vehicle.

On Monday, June 27th, during a special meeting of Milwaukee County's Public Safety Committee on crime in Milwaukee, Alderman Bob Donovan used 17-year-old Damonta Goode as an example of a dysfunctional court system in Milwaukee.

Donovan said this is just the latest case where a person accused of a violent crime was released on bail only to be arrested again.

"We're dysfunctional," Donovan said.

Donovan, during the meeting, read aloud a newspaper headline.

"It says: 'Cases mount against carjacking suspect released on signature bond,'" Donovan said.

Goode was arrested in January for his alleged role in an armed carjacking.

In May, he was able to post a $4,000 signature bond.

In mid-June, Goode was one of three teenagers arrested after a police chase led to a crash at 36th and Villard.

A criminal complaint says Goode was riding in a stolen pickup truck with two firearms inside. It says the chase spanned a total of 3.7 miles, with speeds that reached up to 96 miles-per-hour, and that the stolen car "disregarded four different red lights and two different official stop signs."

"The concern is that we have a segment of young people in our community that feel they're untouchable. That they can engage in whatever kind of horrendous acts they so desire," Donovan said.

The stolen vehicle allegedly carrying Goode struck a car with a man and three kids inside -- ages one, seven and eight. All were hurt.

Goode now faces nine felony charges -- and a cash bond of $10,000.