Milwaukee man charged after police say he struck an officer with his car

Bill Kurtz
Now News Group

A 27-year-old Milwaukee man is facing charges after police say he struck an officer with his car and fled the scene of a shoplifting arrest April 12.

Takorey Phillips was charged April 15 in Ozaukee County Circuit Court with three felonies (first-degree recklessly endangering safety, second-degree recklessly endangering safety, eluding an officer) and three misdemeanors (resisting or obstructing an officer, retail theft of less than $500 and bail jumping). All are repeat charges, according to online court records. 

Phillips was arrested in River Hills after he drove south on Interstate 43, exited at West Good Hope Road and crashed into a streetlight post, before fleeing on foot. He was captured shortly afterwards.

Mequon police were dispatched to Marshalls, 10976 N. Port Washington Road, at 1:19 p.m., minutes after Phillips allegedly stole $208 worth of perfume and makeup, according to the criminal complaint.

Officers sought to stop Phillips, who was in his vehicle, but he "drove at officers with his vehicle, making contact with an officer, striking him and pushing him across the parking lot," according to a Mequon Police Department news release.

According to police audio from Broadcastify, the pursuit reached speeds at or near 100 mph. Broadcastify is a platform for streaming live audio of public safety, aircraft, rail and marine-related communications. The audio of the pursuit reflects a condensed version of the radio traffic, edited for brevity and elimination of gaps and garbles.

A 23-year-old Milwaukee woman, a passenger in the vehicle, was arrested on unrelated charges and warrants. Mequon police are seeking a charge of obstructing an officer against her, but no charges had been filed at press time. The woman faces retail theft charges from earlier this year in Waukesha and Washington counties, and Phillips is a co-defendant in the Waukesha County case. 

A 2½-year-old child of the woman and Phillips was also a passenger in the vehicle. She was taken to a hospital to be evaluated for injuries.

According to Mequon police, surveillance video showed Phillips previously took $167 worth of perfume, makeup and clothing from Marshalls, at 10:30 a.m. April 9. Police said store security told them that the couple were part of a theft ring that has been targeting Marshalls and T.J. Maxx stores in the metropolitan area. Security employees were at the store at the time of the April 12 incident, investigating the previous theft.