MILWAUKEE — A chaotic and frightening scene unfolded this week at a hotel near 118th Street and Silver Spring Drive when 26-year-old Kewane Daniels led police on a dangerous flight that left a Milwaukee police officer trapped inside his own vehicle before it crashed into a tree.
Late in the afternoon, a woman contacted police, saying Daniels had taken her property and active warrants were outstanding for his arrest. She used location data from her belongings to pinpoint Daniels in the parking lot of the Comfort Suites hotel, and police arrived prepared to make a lawful arrest and collect the property.
As Daniels walked toward his car, an officer positioned himself behind an open rear door to stand between Daniels and escape. The officer repeatedly ordered him not to drive away. Instead of complying, Daniels ignored the commands and suddenly reversed the vehicle toward the officer.
To avoid being struck or pulled under the car, the officer made a split-second decision and jumped into the back seat as the vehicle sped out of the parking lot. Daniels then accelerated recklessly, driving at nearly 90 mph, mounting curbs and weaving along Silver Spring Drive while the officer stayed trapped in the rear with no clear exit.
Inside the moving vehicle, the officer managed to keep his service weapon aimed at Daniels and gave repeated commands to stop, but none of it persuaded him to slow down. The officer eventually put the weapon away in hopes of calming Daniels and convincing him to pull over, but the plan didn’t work.
The bizarre flight came to a head near 92nd and Birch Avenue as Daniels opened his door and jumped out of the still-moving car at about 35 mph. The vehicle continued on its own and crashed into a tree in a front yard. The officer was still trapped inside because child safety locks were engaged, preventing him from opening the door and getting out.
Nearby units quickly located Daniels on foot. Arrest reports note he was missing his shoes in extremely cold temperatures, but officers later found them in the surrounding area. Daniels was taken into custody without further incident and now faces multiple charges, including recklessly endangering safety, false imprisonment, fleeing police, and taking property amid an arrest attempt.
Investigators say the case has shaken the department and the community, highlighting dangers officers face even during routine warrant arrests. Court records show Daniels is set to appear in Milwaukee County Court on January 8 as legal proceedings begin.
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