18-Mile Milwaukee County Police Chase; the driver is charged

MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee man is accused of leading police on an 18-mile chase last month at speeds of up to 120 mph.

Prosecutors charged Judge Pearson, 19, with fleeing/eluding police and second-degree recklessly endangering safety. On Friday, he pleaded not guilty to both charges.

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Police harassment

The pursuit began on Oct. 20 near 28th and Townsend. That night, around 8:20 p.m., a report of a criminal offense was received Milwaukee a police officer was conducting surveillance at a nearby gas station when he saw a man driving a black Mazda 3 toward the gas station.

Two other officers in the area saw the same black Mazda 3 with the same Wisconsin plates, and they saw the vehicle have excessive window tint, according to the complaint. Officers pulled up behind the vehicle and activated their lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop.

Court documents say the driver of the Mazda initially slowed but then sped off, fleeing the police.

Officers pursued the driver for more than 18 miles as the driver clocked speeds of 75 mph in residential areas and 120 mph on interstates. The driver also ran several stop signs and brake lights. Officers eventually called off the pursuit on the interstate near Brown Deer Road as traffic backed up and lanes narrowed due to construction.

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Search for the suspect

According to the complaint, police reviewed surveillance footage from the gas station and saw the driver get into the driver’s seat of the Mazda before fleeing. Police learned the car was registered to Pearson.

After reviewing Pearson’s prior booking photo, the complaint states, police determined Pearson was the same person the officer saw in person and on surveillance video getting into the driver’s seat of the Mazda before the chase.

According to prosecutors, officers went to Pearson’s address and saw a black Mazda 3 with the same Wisconsin license plate parked behind the residence.

Officers attempted to contact the people at the residence, but were unable to make contact until Pearson’s father arrived, the complaint states. Pearson’s father eventually called him and he came out of the residence and was taken into custody.