13 Carjacking Arrests

City-wide carjacking update

Police Officer Jose Alba from Milwaukee Police Department

Milwaukee police arrested 13 people — including 11 juveniles — in four carjacking cases in an 18-hour span, department officials said in a social media post Friday.

The flurry of arrests comes as Milwaukee police and suburban agencies continue to focus on carjackings in a specialized task force. The task force has arrested about 115 people since its creation last month.

Milwaukee police reported the following carjacking arrests:

■ Two men, ages 18 and 20, and a 16-year-old boy were arrested after a 55-year-old woman was robbed of her car at gunpoint about 7:20 p.m. Thursday in the 1300 block of N. 57th St.

The three were arrested later Thursday evening in the 3400 block of N. Holton St.

■ Five teens, ranging in age from 12 to 16, were arrested after an SUV was taken in an armed robbery about 6 p.m. Wednesday in the 2200 block of S. 36th St.

The stolen SUV was seen by officers about 12:30 p.m. Thursday. The 12-year-old driver led police on a chase that ended when the vehicle crashed near 19th and Locust streets. Police arrested the driver and four other teens who ran from the car.

■ Two men, ages 22 and 24, and two 15-year-old boys were arrested after an armed robbery in the 2400 block of S. 9th Place.

The robbery occurred about 6:50 p.m. Thursday and police saw the stolen car soon after and chased it. The pursuit ended near 35th St. and W. Capitol Drive about 7:55 p.m. and the four people were arrested. Police are still searching for a fifth person who ran from the vehicle.

■ Two teens were arrested after a man’s vehicle was taken in an armed robbery just before 11 a.m. Friday in the 1700 block of N. Hi-Mount Blvd.

Officers saw the stolen vehicle and chased it until 26th St. and Ruby Ave. where they arrested two boys, ages 14 and 16.

Earlier this week, the driver of a stolen SUV was killed in a crash while trying to speed around another vehicle. Two teen girls who were passengers suffered serious injures. No one was injured in the other vehicle.

The Honda CRV had been taken in an armed robbery Jan. 15 in the 2900 block of Farwell Ave.

Milwaukee police, suburban agencies and prosecutors launched a task force focused on carjackings on Dec. 1.

Some of those who have been arrested could eventually face federal charges and longer sentences.

At least one of those arrested, Richard Whittaker, 32, of Milwaukee, already was indicted in federal court.