MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for a 2023 police shooting on the city’s north side.

Kenneth Brown, 22, reached a plea deal in July and was convicted of recklessly endangering safety, among other crimes. In addition to prison time, he was sentenced to seven years of extended supervision.

Brown was one of two men charged in the case – which was also tied to a pursuit and separate shooting. Kenneth Rogers, 20, is due in court next month for a plea hearing. 

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Police chase

Police said the pursuit stemmed from an investigation into a Dec. 6 shooting, which happened near 29th and St. Paul and wounded a 20-year-old. When officers tried to stop a Honda SUV wanted in connection to the shooting, police said the driver took off.

51st and Hampton, Milwaukee

Stop sticks were used at 68th and Hampton, according to police, and the chase continued for roughly a mile until the SUV crashed. Police said Brown was the driver and Rogers was the passenger who then ran off.

The Honda CRV had New Mexico plates and was reported stolen Dec. 3. The SUV’s owner told police that the vehicle was parked in front of a home near Cambridge and Hartford on the city’s east side when it was taken.

Police shooting

According to a criminal complaint filed against both men, police squad camera footage showed Rogers running from the scene carrying a black handgun in his right hand as he ran across the street. Officers chased after both men, ordering them multiple times to drop the gun, the complaint states.

Prosecutors said Brown and Rogers stopped running as the officers continued commanding to drop the gun. Police said two officers fired their weapons, striking both men. After the shooting, MPD Chief Jeffrey Norman said it was not clear whether a gun was ever pointed at the officers.

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Brown and Rogers were taken into custody and to a hospital. Rogers was critically injured, police said, and Brown was expected to be OK. No other injuries were reported.

Prosecutors said a .45 caliber Glock semi-automatic pistol equipped with a laser sight was found on the ground where Rogers was arrested. Court filings state the gun is likely a ballistics match for the gun used in the shooting near 29th and St. Paul. Police said drugs – cocaine and fentanyl – were also found in the SUV.

CNN
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Four former hotel workers pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of felony murder in connection with the case of D’Vontaye Mitchell, a 43-year-old Black man who died this summer after he was pinned to the ground outside a downtown Milwaukee hotel in an encounter partially captured on video.

Former security manager Todd Alan Erickson, desk agent Devin W. Johnson-Carson, security guard Brandon LaDaniel Turner and bellman Herbert T. Williamson each entered not guilty pleas on Thursday in state court in Wisconsin.

The then-hotel workers’ June 30 encounter with Mitchell unfolded as use of force – particularly against people of color – by police and others in authority roles remains under scrutiny nearly four years after protests flared nationwide following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

Erickson was granted bail Thursday after requesting a reduction from $50,000 to $5,000. The judge granted the reduction over the protest of Mitchell’s mother, Brenda L Giles, who made a statement in court asking the judge to deny bond reduction. Bail was also granted for Turner after the judge reduced the amount from $30,000 to $5,000.

Johnson-Carson and Williamson had previously been released from jail on cash bond.

Craig R. Johnson, an attorney for Johnson-Carson, called Mitchell’s death a “tragedy,” but said his client did not commit a crime.

“This situation was a tragedy, but not every tragedy has a villain, and not every tragedy is a crime … Mr. Johnson-Carson was responding to a volatile and potentially dangerous situation that could have threatened the safety of hotel staff and guests,” the attorney said Thursday. “His actions were not criminal and did not contribute to the death of Mr. Mitchell.”

CNN has reached out attorneys for Erickson, Turner and Williamson for comment.

All four defendants are due back in court on October 15. If convicted, they could be sentenced to up to 15 years and nine months in prison.

While the four defendants tackled Mitchell to the ground outside the hotel, one of them struck Mitchell multiple times; another hit him once; and another kicked him in the torso, the charging documents state.

Mitchell died from “restraint asphyxia and toxic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine,” and the manner of death is homicide, according to the autopsy report.

At a preliminary hearing on Monday, prosecutors called Dr. Lauren Decker, a forensic pathologist from the medical examiner’s office as a witness to go over the findings of Mitchell’s autopsy.

Attorneys for the workers questioned whether obesity and drug use could have caused his death, regardless of the restraint.

“I can’t extrapolate to other situations,” Decker said. “In this case, he not only was held by multiple individuals, but also was in this position.”

Milwaukee Police Det. Martin Saavedra was also called to the stand Monday. The detective described the altercation between Mitchell and the defendants, as seen on hotel security video.

All four workers have been fired by Aimbridge Hospitality, which operates the Hyatt Regency hotel, according to a source familiar with the situation.

CNN’s Sara Smart and Steve Almasy contributed to this report.

The Milwaukee Brewers are one of the most underrated teams in Major League Baseball.

The Brewers are running away with the National League Central Division.

The Brewers have a commanding game lead in their division, even with their best player on the Injured List.

All Star Christian Yelich, 32, is now recovering from successful back surgery.

At the time of his surgery, Yelich was hitting .315/.406/.504.,909, with 12 doubles, three triples, 11 homers, and 42 RBIs in 315 games.

Yelich’s barking back allowed him only 315 plate appearances this season, but he was a catalyst in the Brewers lineup.

But the Brewers might be the Rodney Dangerfield of MLB. It doesn’t seem they get the respect they are due.

Social Media conversations usually include the Dodgers, the Yankees, the Orioles, the Astros, the Phillies, and other high profile teams. It seems to this writer that the Brewers are often an afterthought.

Plenty Of Firepower:

Even with Yelich on the sidelines, the Brewers offense remains plenty dangerous.

The Brewers hit for average, hit for power, and are third in Major League Baseball, with 161 stolen bases.

The Brewers find a way to get on base, steal second, possibly steal third, and score.

It seems a different Brewer hitter contributes on a daily basis. Someone steps up every night.

Shortstop Willie Adames, who can become a free agent following this season, leads the team in home runs, with 22, and 85 RBIs. A shortstop with that type of power and speed is a true plus to any offense.

All Star catcher William Contreras contributes from a position not normally known for offensive production. However, Contreras has a rare combination of power and a very good hitting tool, which results in an excellent batting average.

Second baseman Brice Turang, 24, has had a superb season. He leads the team in stolen bases, with 37. Turang was a 1st round Brewers draft pick in 2018.

Two Budding MLB Stars:

Without Yelich in the lineup, two young Brewers have continued to step up and help lead the charge.

Jackson Chourio, still only 20, is a very legitimate candidate for National League Rookie of the Year.

Chourio makes excellent contact, has very good speed, and can hit the ball out of any park.

Chourio signed an 8-year, $82 million contract with Milwaukee that takes him through 2032.

To date, Chourio is hitting .274. He went 4-for-5 in the team’s 10-6 extra inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals August 21. He stole his 18 base in the game.

The Brewers traded their right-handed pitching ace, Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles in February 2024. In return, the Brewers received left-handed pitcher DL Hall, and infielder, Joey Ortiz.

To this old scout, Ortiz, 26, has stardom written all over himself.

He can become a consequential part of future Brewers clubs.

A right-handed hitter, it’s possible Ortiz will assume the starting shortstop position if Willie Adames leaves via free agency.

Using a sweet, right-handed swing, Ortiz makes this happen. He gets big hits at big moments.

So far this season, Ortiz is hitting .248, but he is gaining experience and becoming a very important component of the winning Brewers team.

Outstanding Brewers Pitching:

It wasn’t easy to trade Burnes, who can become a free agent after this season. However, other Brewers pitchers have stepped up.

A rotation that normally includes right-handers Freddy Peralta, Colin Rea, Frankie Montas, Tobias Myers, and Aaron Civale, has been efficient, and relatively effective.

There are no real stars among the group. While Peralta had once been viewed as well above average, he has had some good moments, and bad.

Pitchers Robert Gasser (Tommy John surgery), Wade Miley (Tommy John surgery), and Brandon Woodruff (shoulder surgery), are all on the Brewers injured list.

The Brewers bullpen has been outstanding.

If the starters can give the team five or six innings, the pen is very credible in holding down the opposition.

Returning from injury himself, closer Devin Williams is almost automatic. He took over the 9th inning when the Brewers traded All Star Josh Hader. William has been terrific.

Williams did have a rough outing August 21, blowing a 9th inning save in the tough loss to St. Louis.

Lefties Jered Koenig, and Bryan Hudson, and right-handers Bryan Hudson and Joel Payamps have been very, very efficient in setting-up Williams.

The Brewers high-leverage relievers have been a major contributor to the team’s amazing success.

Right-handers Nick Mears, Elvis Peguero, Bryan Wison, and Joe Ross complete the pen.

Conclusions:

To this writer, the Milwaukee Brewers have such a well-balanced team, they can give the Dodgers and Phillies, and any other National League contender a run for their money in the National League pennant chase.