MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Police are investigating a car crash and shots fired incident that happened overnight and left one officer injured in downtown Milwaukee.
It happened around 3:20 a.m. Tuesday near 7th and Wisconsin.
According to police, two detectives in an unmarked squad car were traveling northbound on James Lovell Street (7th Street) when two vehicles speeding west on Wisconsin Avenue blew through a red light at the intersection.
One of the vehicles, which was traveling in the wrong lane of traffic, clipped the squad car, spun out, and crashed into the nearby Stein's Jewelers building.
Robert Pack, who co-owns Wisconsin Avenue Jewelry and Loan, said the business had been operating in the building as a buy-sell shop, and the plan was to re-open it this week as a high-end pawn shop.
"I never would've imagined this," Pack said.
He said he's not sure how much damaged the crash caused, or how long it'll take to fix. His business plans have been temporarily put on hold.
"There's structural damage to the front of the building," Pack added. "All the windows are broken out. Those gates, which are metal gates in front of the store, have been totally torn out by the car."
According to police, the driver of the wrecked vehicle exited the car and was picked up by the driver of the second vehicle.
The two suspects, who are still missing, drove away.
As they fled, an occupant fired multiple shots at the detectives. One of the shots struck the unmarked squad car.
Police say the two detectives in the squad were a 39-year-old male with 14 years of service and a 43-year-old male with 10 years of service. Both are assigned to the Sensitive Crimes Division.
The 43-year-old detective was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries suffered in the crash and was treated and released. The other detective was not injured.
As police continue to search for the suspects, they said it's too early to know if either of the cars involved were stolen.
