Man shot by police at Children's Hospital charged

WAUWATOSA -- The Milwaukee man shot by police at Children's Hospital as they attempted to arrest him on an outstanding bench warrant has been criminally charged.


According to the criminal complaint, Milwaukee police received a call alerting them to the location of  22-year-old Ashanti Hendricks. Hendricks had a warrant out for his arrest for failing to appear in court. 


The complaint says Milwaukee police officers were dispatched to Children's Hospital to check for a wanted suspect. Officers Acosta and Thompson found Hendricks inside a hospital room holding a baby. Officer Acosta reported that he ordered Hendricks to put the baby inside a car seat on a futon in the room.


Hendricks tried to run out of the room, but Officers Acosta and Thompson both held him in the doorway.The complaint says they Officer Acosta lost control over his left arm and felt pain. According to Acosta this is what allowed Hendricks to escape the room, and run into a common hallway.


In the criminal complaint, Acosta says he and Thompson ordered Hendricks to drop his gun while pursuing him. Acosta told detectives Hendricks ran into a dead-end hallway, and began running at the officers that were chasing him. Officer Acosta allegedly fired only two shots and injured Hendricks. Hendricks was hit in the arm, and continued running.


The criminal complaint states Hendricks eventually dropped his gun, and began to comply with officers' commands to get on the ground. Between this point and his handcuffing Hendricks attempted escape a couple times.


The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office has charged Hendricks with two counts of bail jumping, possession of firearm by a felon, and obstructing/resisting an officer.


If convicted of all four charges, Hendricks could serve up to 22 years and nine months in prison.


READ THE FULL CRIMINAL COMPLAINT HERE

Share this article: