'Going to pay the price:' Suspect fleeing police causes double rollover crash; officials remind drivers of MPD chase policy

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A police pursuit involving a stolen vehicle ended in a multi-vehicle rollover crash near 27th and Galena Monday night, June 23.

Police say just before 10 p.m., officers attempted to stop a vehicle for a registration violation near 5th and Becher. The driver refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued.

According to police, the chase ended when the fleeing driver collided with another vehicle near 27th and Galena -- causing both vehicles to roll.

The driver of the suspect vehicle, a 17-year-old male, was arrested after attempting to run away. He was transported to a hospital for treatment of non-fatal injuries. The passenger of the suspect vehicle, a 20-year-old, was thrown from the car and transported to a hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

The driver of the other vehicle, a 22-year-old, was transported to a hospital for treatment of non-fatal injuries.

This brings up an important issue that has come up a lot over the last 10 years: what is the police chase policy?

In 2023, there were more than 1,000 police pursuits in Milwaukee.

The president of the Milwaukee Police Association says the policy changed years ago, and now people are starting to understand if they don't pull over, they will be chased.

"The policy changed, so we are trying to catch up to all those years where people just fled the police and there were no consequences," said Milwaukee Police Association President Alexander Ayala.

Ten years ago, the police pursuit policy was only for violent crimes.

"Now we chase you for a crime, mostly felons, and you're going to pay the price," said Ayala.

Ayala says whether it's a vehicle wanted for a crime or a taillight out, you have to pull over.

"You pull the car over and the vehicle refuses to pull over, that immediately makes it fleeing and reckless driving, so then that police officer can chase because now it's a felony," Ayala explained.

According to the United States Department of Justice, vehicle pursuits are characterized as one of the most dangerous of all ordinary police activities.

"It not only endangers the police officers, my members, the suspect, but any bystanders," said Ayala.

It's something Ayala says is avoidable.

"They want to blame the police, but no, if the person would not have run from the police and not done it in the first place, none of this would have happened," said Ayala.

Reckless driving remains an epidemic in Milwaukee, and Ayala says that's something they are hoping to change.

"Right now, we have about 200 officers short and 50 detectives short, so we are barely hanging on," said Ayala.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson says the police have every right to pursue anyone that flees.

"I have supported the MPD policy because I think that in the past, what we've seen is that when there is not a policy in place, that encouraged people to drive recklessly because they felt that they could do it with impunity, that there was going to be no consequences. Well, there are consequences when you drive recklessly, when you hurt somebody. The police are going to pursue you, arrest you, and then you're going to face the full consequence of the law," said Mayor Johnson.

A firearm and suspected illegal narcotics were recovered.

Criminal charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.