April 27, 2010

www.journaltimes.com

CALEDONIA - Oak Creek police shot and killed a 48-year-old Racine man early Monday morning after pursuing his vehicle south on Highway 32 into Caledonia.

Johnny Harris was shot after he allegedly got into a squad car and struck an officer twice.

At a press conference Monday afternoon, Oak Creek Police Chief Tom Bauer said at about 7:30 a.m. Monday officers were notified by a resident of East Elm Road that a man had come to the door to inquire about something for sale. The resident thought it was suspicious.

Two officers responded to the area, Bauer said. One of them spotted a black vehicle matching the suspicious person's vehicle in the area of Highway 32 and Elm Road.

The officer attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect, later identified as Harris, drove off in an attempt to flee, police said.

Police chased Harris southbound on Highway 32 until he crashed his car into a vacant commercial building - formerly the Nye Corporation at 5017 7 Mile Road - on the southwest corner of Highway 32 and 7 Mile Road.

Bauer said Harris got out of his car and ran around the building. The first officer to arrive at the crash began pursuing him on foot.

The officer, realizing that he had left his squad unattended, double-backed to the squad, Bauer said. By that time, Harris had already gotten into the squad. According to reports, the officer drew his gun and ordered Harris out.

The second officer arrived on scene and also ordered Harris out of the squad at gunpoint. According to Bauer, at some point, Harris drove the police SUV into one of the officers, striking him twice.

Both officers fired their guns, shooting Harris, Bauer said.

Caledonia police responded to the scene, along with fire and rescue. CPR was started on the wounded Harris, and when he left scene to be transported to the hospital, he was still alive, Bauer said.

Harris was later pronounced dead at Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints hospital, 3801 Spring St. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed in Milwaukee County today.

The officer who was struck by the police vehicle was taken to the hospital, treated and released.

Immediately following the shooting, authorities closed a portion of the southbound lanes of Highway 32. Yellow police tape was strung around the commercial building.

Harris's black vehicle sat halfway inside the building and a police SUV with a shattered driver's side window was stopped in the ditch.

Police with guns drawn and dogs checked the building at about 8:15 a.m. for any other possible suspects. Authorities said this was done as a precaution.

A joint investigation into the shooting will be handled by Oak Creek and Caledonia police and the Milwaukee County and Racine County district attorneys offices.

Four residents apparently witnessed the shooting. Their statements along with information the officers provided suggests the officers were justified in the shooting, Bauer said. However, the investigation is still in the very early stages, he said.

One of the officers is a 14-year veteran of the department. The other is a 4-year veteran.

Both officers were at home on Monday afternoon, Bauer said.

Police do not believe that Harris had a weapon. However, he did have access to a shotgun inside the squad, Bauer said.

Oak Creek Police have learned that a home on East Elm Road where Harris was allegedly knocking on doors was burglarized early Monday morning. Bauer said they believe that Harris was responsible for the burglary.

John Sagan, who owns a house at 2410 East Elm Road, had his house broken into sometime between Sunday afternoon and 9 a.m. Monday. When he arrived at the house Monday morning he noticed that the front door was open and then saw that a side window was broken.

Police told him that the man who was shot may have been involved in the burglary of his house, said Sagan, who is retried from the Oak Creek Police Department. But the investigation is still ongoing. Sagan said when he checked his house he noticed his crossbow, quiver and arrows were missing. Police did not confirm if the burglary they were referring to in their press conference was Sagan's.