Police in Wauwatosa say they’re investigating violent protests Saturday night at the home of embattled police officer Joseph Mensah.
According to a press release, a group of 50 to 60 protesters began vandalizing his home near 100th St. and Vienna St. just after 8 p.m.
The press release says that Mensah was physically assaulted while trying to talk with the group.
Police also say an armed protester fired a shotgun into the home as Mensah was going back inside.
Mensah has shot and killed three people in the last five years while on-duty. He’s currently on suspension.
Police say they’re still investigating.
Mensha released his own statement through his Facebook page, saying protestors “tried to kill me.” He claims he was unarmed, there were children inside, and he tried to defend his and his girlfriend’s property. He went on to say, “The irony in all of this is that they chanted Black Lives Matter the entire time, but had zero regard for any of the black children that live there or me, a black man.”
In response to the protest, Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride released a statement. In part its reads:
“The City of Wauwatosa has always supported and protected the right to peaceful protest. (Saturday) night’s event was not a peaceful protest; it was criminal behavior. If the perpetrators of this criminal behavior are identified, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law.
“(Monday) morning, I will be meeting with the Police Chief, the City Administrator, the City Attorney, and other City officials to determine which steps can be taken to ensure that Officer Mensah is fully protected and that criminal behavior of this kind will not happen again.
“During this difficult time, I ask all members of the community to reflect on their personal responsibility to engage in responsible and civic behavior. Now more than ever, it is essential that we all work together to heal a divided community. This will require patience and an understanding that, though changes must occur, they can only occur through the functioning of democratic processes and not through violence.”
