Vaun L. Mayes Taken Into Custody By Milwaukee Police Shortly After Visiting Mural Of Black Leaders And Activists For Social Justice

Milwaukee police have arrested Mayes on a warrant, according to Frank Nitty who was at the scene when police pulled over Mayes in the Northside of Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 29, 2020

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Monday, Vaun (Van) L. Mayes was taken into custody around 12:04 p.m. at the 5000 block of W. Center St. by Milwaukee police on a warrant, according to Frank Nitty, (birth name, Frank Sensabaugh), a local community activist and a "No Justice, No Peace" march organizer who Facebook live recorded the arrest by police. According to Nitty, Milwaukee police under Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales have been targeting and harassing local Black leaders who have been organizing recent marches in addition to being followed everyday and in one occasion have removed a license plate from Nitty's vehicle in order to stop him for questioning, Nitty alleged in the video.

Nitty including Mayes had just left a mural being painted on a wall in the Northside of himself, Mayes including other African-American leaders struggling and fighting  for social justice and accountability for bad cops who have committed illegal acts and murders of unarmed people of color.

Mayes was on bail for a frivolous federal charge of making molotovs during the unrest at the Sherman Park neighborhood area in 2016, in which feds alleged were found in a dumpster claiming the bottles belonged to Mayes. Mayes claims the bottles could have been taken from the trash can at his residence to set him up.

Nitty had two state charges for leading a peaceful march into I-794 freeway in Milwaukee, where a Milwaukee County Sheriff deputy assaulted Nitty and arrested him causing a slash wound and other injuries.

Nitty has participated in more than 26 local peaceful marches in Milwaukee and Mayes along with other local Black leaders as well.

Nitty in the video suggests that police and other people have alleged that Mayes and other Black leaders had organized a protest outside of a home where a suspected duplex was targeted by a crowd for a sex trafficking location after two Black teenage girls went missing. The home was set on fire and at least four suspects were being sought by police. Nitty and Mayes have denied the allegations of leading a crowd to that residence at 2100 block of N. 40th Street.

Nitty says that the feds and local police have been targeting the Black leadership involved in the "No Justice, No Peace" movement simply for being Black and fighting for their rights and change. For decades in Milwaukee, systematic racism and no police officer accountability existed for wrong doing when former former Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann was in office. The Milwaukee Police Department has been plagued with systematic racism for decades and continued to be prevalent during multiple police chiefs including Chief Morales today.

It wasn't until 2005, when off-duty Milwaukee Police Officer Alfonzo Glover, 35, murdered Javier Prado, 25, in cold blood. Prado an undocumented immigrant who was unarmed had been shot multiple times with a .45 Caliber handgun by Glover. 

Prado was shot at 19 times, including being shot 8 times in the back and legs with a 45 Cal., while being chased through an alley by then Officer Glover on March 6, 2005. Glover also reloaded and fired the last two shots killing Prado while he layed face down on the ground. The homicide occurred in the South side of Milwaukee.

A Milwaukee County District Attorney inquest jury found that Glover's actions had been justified. Glover testified that Prado had followed him from work and began flashing his lights at him. Glover said he stopped near S. 9th St. and W. Ohio Ave. and identified himself as a police officer. At first, Glover told the inquest jury that he noticed that Prado was reaching for a weapon. But, Prado then sped away in his van almost hitting Glover. 

Officer Glover then took out his personal weapon and began shooting at Prado. Prado crashed his van while being hit several times by bullets from Glover. Prado fled through an alley injured, bleeding and frantically screaming numerous times, "Please don't kill me...please don't kill me." Some neighbors in the area reported hearing Prado pleading for mercy.

Glover had discharged his weapon a total of 19 times, and police never found a weapon on Prado or at the scene, according to the investigation. But months later after local Latino media including reporter H. Nelson Goodson from El Conquistador Newspaper published articles to launch an independent investigation and to hold Officer Glover accountable as well as other members of the Hispanic community rallied and pressured former Milwaukee County District Attorney McCann to open the investigation, McCann finally did. The independent investigation found evidence that a homicide had occurred and on May 2006, McCann filed first-degree intentional homicide charges against Glover, despite opposition from the Milwaukee Police Association (MPA).

In his 38 years as D.A., McCann had never charged an officer with a homicide. John Balcerzak, then president of the MPA called for McCann's resignation "due to irresponsible handling of the investigation of Officer Glover."

After being booked on homicide charges, Glover posted $25,000 bail, and went home. Glover then committed suicide at his South side residence the same day he was charged. No note was ever found, according to police.

The persistent Latino media coverage of the Prado murder in 2005 and public pressure for an independent investigation was instrumental in the first ever homicide charge against a Milwaukee police officer in Milwaukee's history.

The Milwaukee Police Department released the following press release on Mayes arrest, "On Monday, June 29, 2020, the Milwaukee Police Department arrested a community activist for a felony charge related to his alleged involvement in criminal activity that occurred on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, on the 2100 block of North 40th Street. Per MPD Standard Operating Procedures, inquiries regarding arrested adults shall be referred to the Central Booking Division or district arrest blotters. Criminal charges will be presented to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office in the upcoming days."

Dozens of supporters for Vaun Mayes began to gather in front of the Milwaukee County Jail where he was booked on Monday. The people will be staying in front of the jail until Mayes gets bailed out. Mayes is not expected for a court date until at least five days, according to reports from his supporters.

Update: Vaun Mayes was released on Tuesday just before 2p.m. According to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office, the felony Mayes case, which pending charges for criminal trespass to dwelling and burglary including party to a crime will remain in review and or pending that could include additional charges, if the D.A.'s Office decides to file charges in coming weeks.