Milwaukee Teen Charged in High Speed Chase With Tosa Police

A Milwaukee teen is facing charges for leading Wauwatosa Police on a high speed chase in August that ended when the stolen minivan he was driving crashed into a building at North 66th Street and West North Avenue.

Robert Thomas Dawson, 19, was charged in Milwaukee County Circuit Court Wednesday with one count of attempting to flee an officer. If convicted, he faces up to 3½ years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

At 2:20 a.m. Aug. 2, a Wauwatosa police officer noticed two Dodge Caravans driving from the Mayfair Mall parking lot. The vans abruptly headed in a different direction after the drivers saw a police squad car.

The officer followed one of the vans and pulled it over near North 104th Street and West North Avenue. As the officer approached the van, Dawson drove off and a chase ensued.

During the chase, Dawson hit speeds of up to 85 miles per hour, drove on the wrong side of the road and ran a red light. Officers placed a stop strip near North 70th Street and West North Avenue, which punctured the van tires.

Dawson continued to drive until the van hit a building and came to a stop. Dawson and two passengers fled the scene on foot, but were quickly arrested.

Dawson told police a friend had picked him up earlier in a stolen van and they drove to another stolen van in the parking lot of the mall. They had planned to drive around to find people to rob, because “people tend to have more money at the beginning of the month.”

Dawson was charged with burglary and driving a vehicle without consent in August. His plea and sentencing for those charges is scheduled for Oct. 26.

Dawson will also have his initial appearance for the charge of fleeing an officer Oct. 26.