Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Women's Center helps older women escape domestic violence

Published

1 year ago

December 9, 2024

Milwaukee Women's Center helps older women escape domestic violence

This article discusses domestic violence. If you or someone you know has been assaulted, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 for free, 24/7 support.

MILWAUKEE — Survivors of domestic abuse often try to leave their abusive relationships, but don’t have anywhere to go, and risk being homeless.

What You Need To Know

The Milwaukee Women’s Center’s offers a place to live and counseling for women over the age of 50 with its Older Abused Women’s Program

The Milwaukee Women’s Center is able to operate off of donations and grant funding but workers worry that the money available will not be enough as this vulnerable population continues to grow

Stephanie Johnson is a survivor of domestic violence who, until recently, was living comfortably in an apartment in Milwaukee for nine years.

“I ended up being evicted after going back to a bad relationship thinking things were going to change and of course they did not,” said Johnson, whose name and identity has been changed in this story for safety reasons as she’s in the process of fleeing a domestic violence situation.

Johnson has been staying at the Milwaukee Women’s Center since October.

“I was staying with my daughter here and there, bouncing from place to place, I stayed in a hotel for a couple of nights until I ran out of money,” said Johnson.

(Spectrum News 1/Cody Taylor)

She was connected to the Milwaukee Women’s Center’s Older Abused Women’s Program. It offers a place to live and counseling for women over the age of 50.

“If I am not mistaken, we are the only shelter specifically for older, abused women,” said Emergency Shelter Director Shamika May. “At the age where they should be stable and enjoying getting older, they have to deal with things like fleeing domestic violence.”

Johnson, like many other victims of domestic violence, made the choice to return to her abuser.

When asked why she went back to him, she said, “I don’t know… I don’t know.”

(Spectrum News 1/Cody Taylor)

In a study done on 104 females, the National Institutes of Health reported that 66.3% of these victims returned to their abusers at least once and of them, 97.1% of them returned to their abusers more than once.

May said many older women find themselves in unhealthy relationships, without their own financial security. That can lead to feelings of anxiety and hopelessness in finding a job or changing their reality later in life.

“A lot of time we get women that don’t have work experience, they don’t have the tools to do what they need to do to make it in everyday life,” said May. “A lot of older abused women, we are helping them from the beginning.”

The Older Abused Women’s Program only has the ability to offer four beds in its shelter.

“So we do have to turn people away and if I am not mistaken, we are the only shelter specifically for older abused women,” said May.

(Spectrum News 1/Cody Taylor)

Often, being able to escape a domestic violence situation can mean life or death.

Johnson said she is very grateful for the program as it has offered her a safe place to get back on her feet.

According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, more than 80% of mothers with children experiencing homelessness had previously experienced domestic violence.

May said the Milwaukee Women’s Center is able to operate off of donations and grant funding, but she worries that money will not be enough as this vulnerable population continues to grow.

“We try to have funding to help these women pay for rent and security deposits because a lot of the time that is a huge barrier to housing,” said May.

At the time of this interview, Johnson was working with housing navigators to find a new place to live.

(Spectrum News 1/Cody Taylor)

“I had been in my house for nine years and there is no reason I should have to be homeless and without housing, but I have to start from scratch again,” said Johnson.

Johnson said she was grateful a bed was open at the Milwaukee Women’s Center when she needed it. As she continues her healing journey, she said she wants others in unhealthy relationships to know there is help and hope out there.

“As long as you have people to support you and keep positive thoughts in your head, you can do it,” she said.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee police chase, 15-year-old driver arrested

Published

5 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee police chase, 15-year-old driver arrested

article

Milwaukee Police Department (MPD)

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee police arrested a 15-year-old boy after a pursuit across the city’s north side Wednesday night.

What they’re saying:

The chase started around 9:20 p.m. MPD said officers saw a vehicle that was wanted in an armed robbery and tried to stop it near 33rd and Locust, but the driver took off.

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The chase ended roughly two miles away near 29th and Roosevelt, where the driver got out and ran. MPD said the suspect’s vehicle continued to roll and collided with another vehicle. Officers ultimately caught the 15-year-old and took him into custody.

What’s next:

Criminal charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.

The Source: FOX6 News requested information from the Milwaukee Police Department.

Police ChasesNewsMilwaukee

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee stabbing near 40th and McKinley; 1 wounded, 1 arrested

Published

17 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee stabbing near 40th and McKinley; 1 wounded, 1 arrested

article

Milwaukee Police Department

MILWAUKEE – One person was taken to the hospital after a stabbing in Milwaukee on Wednesday night, Jan. 7.

What we know:

According to Milwaukee police, a 26-year-old was stabbed around 7 p.m. near 40th and McKinley.

Milwaukee police arrested a suspect on the scene.

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What you can do:

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or P3 Tips.

The Source: The information in this post was provided by the Milwaukee Police Department.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee man charged; officer trapped in defendant’s getaway car

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee man charged; officer trapped in defendant’s getaway car

article

MILWAUKEE – A 26-year-old Milwaukee man is accused of fleeing police during an arrest attempt. An officer who was present to make the arrest ended up being trapped in the backseat of the defendant’s vehicle during an attempt to flee law enforcement. The accused is Kewane Daniels – and he faces the following criminal counts:

First-degree recklessly endangering safety
False imprisonment
Operating a motor vehicle to flee or in an attempt to elude an officer
Second-degree recklessly endangering safety

Property taken, arrest attempt

What we know:

According to the criminal complaint, Milwaukee police reported to the Comfort Suites near 118th and Silver Spring after a caller indicated that “property had been taken from her by the defendant,” the complaint says. The caller indicated location data alerted her that the property was in the hotel parking lot. Daniels also had two warrants for his arrest.

The caller reached out to Daniels to come outside and meet her. Law enforcement were going to assist with arresting Daniels and getting the property back.

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The complaint indicates Daniels approached his car, and an officer followed and positioned himself behind an open rear door. He “drew his service weapon knowing that Daniels was reported to frequently be armed,” the complaint says. The officer ordered Daniels not to place the car in drive, but the complaint says Daniels ignored the orders and “accelerated in reverse in an attempt to flee (the officer).”

Arresting officer trapped in defendant’s vehicle

Dig deeper:

The officer, who was now being forced to back pedal, “realized he could not keep up with the quickly reversing vehicle, and feared he may be overtaken and crushed beneath the auto. (The officer) stated that he had to jump into the open rear passenger’s seat in order to escape the possibility of being knocked down beneath the oncoming vehicle’s door and tires,” the complaint says.

The defendant quickly accelerated out of the hotel parking lot with the officer in the rear seat. The officer “continually ordered him to stop the car,” the complaint says. The officer stated, “Daniels fled at a high rate of speed near 90 mph east on W. Silver Spring Drive while losing control and mounting the curb several times,” the complaint says. During this entire incident, the officer said he “kept his service weapon aimed at Daniels while in the back seat. Due to the speeds and reckless driving, (the officer) could not exit the vehicle,” the complaint says.

The court filing says the officer having his firearm pointed had no effect on Daniels pulling over the vehicle. Later, he put his weapon away to try and convince Daniels that he was not in danger and to pull over the vehicle. Instead, the defendant continued fleeing and driving recklessly, the complaint says.

Defendant bails, car crashes

What we know:

Near 92nd and Birch Avenue in Milwaukee, the complaint says, “Daniels opened the driver’s door and abandoned the vehicle which was still moving at approximately 35 mph.” The officer remained trapped in the rear passenger seat of the driverless vehicle which “came to a stop when it mounted the curb, continued into a front yard, and eventually crashed into a tree,” the complaint says. It is noted that Daniels’ vehicle had the child locks engaged, so the officer was unable to exit the vehicle on his own.

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Officers in other squads quickly located Daniels. The complaint indicates the defendant was “missing footwear in extremely frigid temperatures.” His footwear was recovered in a grassy area near where he was taken into custody.

What’s next:

Online court records indicate Daniels is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Milwaukee County court on Thursday, Jan. 8.

The Source: Information in this post was provided by Wisconsin Circuit Court Access and the criminal complaint associated with this case.

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