Two Male Suspects Sought For Igniting A Van And Duplex Home On Fire In The Northside Of Milwaukee

Milwaukee police are seeking four male suspects for setting a house and van on blaze, which was video recorded by dozens of people.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 25, 2020

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) released multiple photos of four  male suspects sought for setting a van and a duplex house on fire on Tuesday. According to MPD, Milwaukee Police are requesting the public's assistance in identifying and locating subjects wanted for an arson that occurred on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, at approximately 5:05 p.m., on the 2100 block of N. 40th Street.

The first suspect is described as an African-American male, 25 - 30-years-old, thin build, light complexion and full beard. He had a birthmark on the left side of his neck. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, black hooded jacket, dark pants and black sandals with black socks.

The second suspect is described as an African-American male, 16 -19-years-old, 5'09"-5'11", 240 pounds and black hair. He was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt and blue jeans.  

The third suspect is described as an African-American male, 18 - 24-years-old, 5’09” - 5’11” and was 180 - 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black tank top, black shorts and black boots with black socks.

The fourth suspect is described as an African-American male, 30 - 35-years-old, 5’11” - 6’01”, 160 pounds and has a full beard. He was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with a gray shirt underneath, yellow work vest, red shorts and black shoes.

The suspects intentionally started a van and house on fire, according to police.

The four suspects were among dozens of people that went to the home determined to find several female teens ages 13 and 15 that were reported missing on Monday when word got out that they were at a suspected human trafficking location in the Northside neighborhood. Police went to the home on Monday and search for the two missing girls and did not find them.

Then on Tuesday, police were called to the same home by the residents of the home indicating that multiple people were trying to break into the home.

Police responded to the home and later called for backup in order to maintain crowd control of an unruly crowd that had gathered and a confrontation between police from the MIRT Unit and crowd ignited multiple times. Police say that at least two officers were injured when bricks and pieces of concrete were thrown at them. It was also reported that several people in the crowd fired several gunshots and multiple people including several children were shot and suffered none-life threatening injuries. The shooting victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Police did not report, if anyone was taken into custody in connection with throwing bricks at police and gunshots fired in the crowd.

Police had to provide an escort for the fire department responding units to get in the location to put out the blaze after the crowd prevented the fire department trucks from reaching the burning home. One fireman was reported injured.

Neighbors had reported the targeted house as a human trafficking location for years, according to a tweet posted in the MPD Twitter account. Also, when police arrived at the home before the blaze, they escorted multiple people from the home under the cover of a blue tarp into a police van and left.

Frank Nitty, a known local Milwaukee activist and march organizer was among other people at the location who were Facebook live recording most of the incident included both suspects igniting the home.

Police later reported that the two missing female teens were found safe and the girls admitted to police that they were never at the location suspected as a human trafficking home, as family members first had suspected.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said that one of the missing girls was found safe and police were trying to locate the second missing girl and that at least 7 police officers were injured on Tuesday while responding to scene at the 2100 block of N. 40th Street and that police did used none letal force (rubber bullets) and tear gas to disperse an unruly crowd who some in the crowd were acting like vigilantes and acting on none factual information. Morales did admit that police did remove multiple individuals from the home and that police responded to the home after shots were exchanged between the residents at the home and people trying to break into the home.

Update: