Two Milwaukee men are facing charges after allegedly being involved in a confrontation that led to gunshots outside the home of the girlfriend of a Wauwatosa Police Officer.
Ronald Bell, 28, faces charges of battery to a law enforcement officer and second-degree recklessly endangering safety with use of a dangerous weapon in the incident outside the home. Officer Joseph Mensah is currently on suspension while being investigated for the deadly shooting of a black teenager in February. In the past 5 years, Mensah, who is also black, has been involved in three deadly shootings.
Bell faces up to 21 years in prison and $35,000 in fines if he is convicted.
William Lofton, 23, also faces charges of second-degree recklessly endangering safety. He faces up to 10 years in prison and $25,000 in fines if he is convicted.
At about 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8, a “caravan” of protesters went to Mensah’s girlfriend’s home in Wauwatosa, the criminal complaint says.
“Numerous individuals” from that group of people got into a confrontation with Mensaha and his girlfriend, and both were hurt, according to the complaint.
Bell then allegedly fired a shotgun which struck the doorframe of the home, the complaint said. Numerous people were near where the gun was fired, according to surveillance video cited in the complaint.
Mensah shot and killed Alvin Cole, 17, in an incident at Mayfair Mall in February.