Sandy MaloneWauwatosa, WI – Protests erupted late Thursday night after a Wauwatosa police officer shot a woman who was violently attacking another woman.
The Wauwatosa Police Department said the incident occurred at about 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 10 when officers responded to a 911 call about a woman “violently attacking” another woman in the 7900-block of Harwood Avenue, WTMJ reported.
Officers found the suspect near the area of Underwood and Harmonee Avenues.
Police said there was a fight and a Wauwatosa officer shot the suspect, WISN reported.
The wounded suspect was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Officials have not released any information yet about her medical condition, WTMJ reported.
Protesters began gathering almost immediately along the crime scene tape that blocked off the area of the shooting.
By 11 p.m., a small crowd of protesters started blocking traffic and tried to stop emergency vehicles from moving through the area.
🚨 – *Language warning*
Protesters are clashing with @WauwatosaPD on the scene of an officer involved shooting, saying a woman was shot. One of the protesters said an officer hit them. Another said an officer tased them. We did not see it happen.#USA pic.twitter.com/qC7c4TnfRH— Maksel (@GregMaksel) December 11, 2020
#Wauwatosa #Wisconsin
Tensions rising at the scene of the officer-involved shooting as Police and demonstrators get in confrontations in Wauwatosa, WI.📷: Ben Jordan pic.twitter.com/vV6WJvRoL8
— Shane B. Murphy (@shanermurph) December 11, 2020
Protesters repeatedly challenged the officers who were standing at the perimeter of the scene and tore down and tried to duck under crime scene tape, videos showed.
Anti-police protesters violently confront law enforcement after a shooting in Wauwatosa, Wisc. #BLM pic.twitter.com/dRCDDJqpjn
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) December 11, 2020
#Wauwatosa #Wisconsin
Demonstrators harass police at the scene with no details about the shooting.📷: Molly Nilssen FB pic.twitter.com/XkGMAJQkRP
— Shane B. Murphy (@shanermurph) December 11, 2020
Wauwatosa police asked the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team to respond to the scene to investigate the shooting, WISN reported.
The community is not unfamiliar with civil unrest.
Violent protests plagued the city for months following the shooting of 17-year-old Alvin Cole by former Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah.
Former Officer Mensah had three separate shootings that had been ruled justified, but the city’s Police and Fire Commission were determined to see the officer off their police force.
The city paid Officer Mensah $125,000 to resign in November.
Holly Matkin
