Wisconsin protesters terrorize residents by throwing rocks into homes after shooting decision

According to Fox news

Demonstrators wreaked havoc on a suburban Wisconsin neighborhood late Wednesday, smashing the windows of homes, presumably rousing people from their beds, during the civil unrest that unfolded after prosecutors announced they would not charge a Black Wauwatosa police officer for fatally shooting a Black teenager outside a shopping mall in February.

Wauwatosa Police said they deployed tear gas at least twice late Wednesday into early Thursday after crowds failed to disperse in the suburb outside Milwaukee despite officers declaring an unlawful assembly multiple times. The department retweeted a video from Town Hall reporter Julio Rosas showing demonstrators smashing storefronts along Swan Boulevard and W. North Avenue.

More footage of the rocks being thrown at Swan Bl / W North Av. https://t.co/plE687iIdb

— Wauwatosa Police (WI) (@WauwatosaPD) October 8, 2020

Police had urged residents in the area to shelter in their homes, lock their doors and move away from their windows as a crowd of demonstrators swept the area, throwing large rocks at law enforcement.

Footage of the unlawful assembly. https://t.co/ztY963euoa

— Wauwatosa Police (WI) (@WauwatosaPD) October 8, 2020

Another video shared by Rosas and retweeted by the department appeared to show people throwing rocks and smashing the windows of houses during an unlawful assembly. Some in the crowd tried to stop others from targeting residents, and someone is heard shouting: “Hey, that’s somebody’s home!”

olice said they would support the National Guard and Mutual Aid to establish a protective perimeter around Wauwatosa City Hall.

“What started as a protest has become a large disturbance of public order that has caused property damage, and is threatening to cause injury to persons. The Wauwatosa Police has ordered dispersal, and has not obtained compliance,” Wauwatosa Police tweeted. “While not all members of the group intend harm, everyone must disperse immediately. Police are working to disperse this group.”

Wauwatosa Police and Mutual Aid officers also responded to multiple reckless vehicles on main roads in Wauwatosa. There were reports of high rates of speed exceeding more than 25 mph over the speed limit, driving on the wrong side of divided highways, and driving over curbs and medians.

Police said these vehicles were endangering the safety of the public, and officers were deploying tire deflation devices to promptly stop the reckless behavior.

The unrest was sparked after Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm declined to pursue charges against Wauwatosa Officer Joseph Mensah, who is also Black, for his involvement in the Feb. 2 death of Alvin Cole. It was the third fatal shooting involving Mensah, authorities said.

In a 14-page letter, Chisholm said evidence indicated Cole, 17, fled from police with a stolen 9-mm firearm, fired a shot, and ignored orders to drop the gun. Mensah was responding to a mall after receiving reports about a suspect with a gun.

The death has sparked protests and Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, activated the National Guard as a precaution.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Matthew Krueger said federal law enforcement personnel have partnered with state and local authorities to address any potential violence.

“Federal law enforcement in Wisconsin is sworn to protect First Amendment rights, which include the rights to speak and assemble ‘peacefully,'” he said. “In the past year, however, in addition to witnessing peaceful protests, some Wisconsin communities have suffered episodes of violent civil unrest.