Milwaukee police have released two videos showing a Milwaukee police officer clinging to the side of a fleeing flatbed tow truck, an incident which resulted in a fatal shooting.
The main video shows the officer clinging to the car before drawing his firearm when the driver refuses to stop, endangering the officer’s life as the tow truck races through the city. Be forewarned that the language is graphic.
This video shows the officer’s partner pursuing the fleeing truck while telling dispatch that his partner was hanging off the side of it.
On Thursday, March 12, 2026, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Milwaukee Police Department officers along with a Department of Corrections Agent “responded to the 1900 block of South 12th Street to check for a wanted suspect with a parole violation. Upon arrival, an officer in full uniform encountered the suspect who was inside a full-sized flatbed tow truck with a passenger in the truck,” police wrote.
“The officer approached the suspect and ordered that he exit the truck. The suspect refused and the officer attempted to remove him from the truck at which time the suspect immediately started the vehicle and suddenly drove off at a high rate of speed while the officer was clinging to the suspect and the driver’s side window,” added police.
“The suspect drove the truck for several blocks as the officer clung to the side of the truck. The officer gave several commands to the suspect to stop the truck, even informing the suspect that if he did not stop, he would shoot. The suspect continued to refuse these commands multiple times. At this time, the officer discharged his firearm subsequently striking the suspect, and finally stopping the truck,” police added.
“The suspect, a 35-year-old male, sustained fatal injuries. The passenger was not physically injured by the gunfire but was transported for medical treatment out of an abundance of caution. We recognize that exposure to incidents like this are traumatic and our thoughts are with the passenger,” continued MPD.
“The officer that discharged his firearm is a 46-year-old male with over 21 years of service. He was transported to a hospital for treatment of non-fatal injuries. He was placed on administrative duty as is routine in officer involved shootings.The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team is investigating this incident. The West Allis Police Department is the lead investigating agency.”
The driver was identified as Jonathon Otto.
