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Trial set to begin for man charged in 2018 ambush death of MPD officer

Posted at 7:25 AM, Feb 25, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-25 08:31:55-05

The trial for the 31-year-old man accused of shooting and killing Milwaukee Police Officer Michael Michalski last summer begins Monday morning.

Jonathan Copeland Jr. is charged with homicide, attempted homicide and possession of a firearm by a felon.

According to a criminal complaint, Michalski was executing a warrant for Copeland's arrest Jul. 25, for felony drug charges when Copeland shot Michalski. The complaint says the officer's body camera caught the incident which showed Copeland appearing to hide under a pile of clothing before ambushing the officer.
After his arrest, police found text messages Copeland sent to his wife the same day as the shooting, saying he would shoot officers if they came into the house after him.

If convicted, he faces life in prison.

Michalski is one of three MPD officers killed in the line of duty in the past eight months.