Milwaukee man free on bail is charged in high-speed chase and crash that shut down I-43
A 21-year-old Milwaukee man free on bail in a drug case faces new charges after prosecutors say he led police on a five-mile chase reaching speeds of 107 mph before crashing on I-43 and temporarily shutting down the freeway.
Amari Hampton was arrested inside a gray Infiniti linked to an earlier incident in which shots were fired at Greenfield police officers in Milwaukee — but he has not been charged with shooting at police.
On Oct. 24, Greenfield officers in a marked squad car were searching for a suspect in an earlier incident when they noticed an Infiniti driving recklessly.
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Greenfield officers followed the car and the occupants fired several shots at them in the 2000 block of N. 24th Place about 10:30 p.m., according to Milwaukee police.
The criminal complaint charging Hampton picks up after this point, when a Milwaukee officer saw a heavily tinted gray Infiniti about 11:50 p.m. in the 4500 block of W. Capitol Drive.
According to the complaint:
The officer, a member of the department's Robbery Task Force, tried to pull the car over. At first, the Infiniti's driver stopped but then took off — fleeing at high speeds, driving the wrong way along streets and running red lights and stop signs throughout the city.
The driver reached speeds of more than 90 mph on North Ave. and merged onto southbound I-43.
He cut off another vehicle just before the Highland Ave. exit ramp and lost control of the car, crashing into a concrete barrier wall before bouncing across all three lanes of traffic.
The driver, identified as Hampton, and two female passengers were arrested. Police also found a gun and five cellphones inside the car.
Hampton was charged Oct. 27 with fleeing causing property damage, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, bail jumping and obstructing an officer. He entered a speedy trial demand earlier this week and is scheduled for a jury trial Feb. 5.
He remained in Milwaukee County Jail Friday on $50,000 bail.
In May, Hampton was charged with two counts of heroin possession with intent to deliver while armed and driving a vehicle without the owner's consent. He posted $5,300 bail later that month, online court records show.