Case 2024CF002301 Document 4 Filed 05-14-2024 Page 1 of 5

FILED
05-14-2024
Anna Maria Hodges
Clerk of Circuit Court
STATE OF WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT MILWAUKEE COUNTY
2024CF002301
STATE OF WISCONSIN DA Case No.: 2024ML012026 Honorable Ana Berrios-
Schroeder-13
Plaintiff, Court Case No.:

vs.
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT
JOHNSON, GRIFFIN LAWRENCE
DOB: 08/09/2004

Defendant. For Official Use

THE BELOW NAMED COMPLAINANT BEING DULY SWORN, ON INFORMATION AND BELIEF
STATES THAT:

Count 1: OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE TO FLEE OR IN AN ATTEMPT TO ELUDE AN

OFFICER

The above-named defendant on or about Thursday, May 9, 2024, at South 35th Street at West Forest Home
Avenue, in the City of Greenfield, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, while operating a motor vehicle on a highway,
after having received a visual or audible signal from a traffic officer, federal law enforcement officer, or marked
or unmarked police vehicle that the operator knew or reasonably should have known was being operated by a law
enforcement officer, did knowingly flee or attempt to elude a traffic officer by increasing the speed of the vehicle
in an attempt to flee, contrary to sec. 346.04(3), 939.50(3)(h) Wis. Stats.

Upon conviction for this offense, a Class H Felony, the defendant may be fined not more than Ten Thousand
Dollars ($10,000), or imprisoned not more than six (6) years, or both.

And furthermore, invoking the provisions of Wisconsin Statute 343.31(3)(d)1, upon conviction the department
shall revoke the defendant's operating privileges for 6 months.

Count 2: SECOND DEGREE RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING SAFETY

The above-named defendant on or about Thursday, May 9, 2024, at South 35th Street at West Forest Home
Avenue, in the City of Greenfield, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, did recklessly endanger the safety of others,
contrary to sec. 941.30(2), 939.50(3)(g) Wis. Stats.

Upon conviction for this offense, a Class G Felony, the defendant may be fined not more than Twenty Five
Thousand Dollars ($25,000), or imprisoned not more than ten (10) years, or both.

Count 3: BAIL JUMPING (FELONY)

The above-named defendant on or about Thursday, May 9, 2024, at South 35th Street at West Forest Home
Avenue, in the City of Greenfield, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, having been charged with a felony and
released from custody under Chapter 969 of the Wisconsin Statutes, did intentionally fail to comply with the
terms of his bond, contrary to sec. 946.49(1)(b), 939.50(3)(h) Wis. Stats.

Upon conviction for this offense, a Class H Felony, the defendant may be fined not more than Ten Thousand
Dollars ($10,000), or imprisoned not more than six (6) years, or both.
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Count 4: VEHICLE OPERATOR FLEE/ELUDE OFFICER CAUSING BODILY HARM

The above-named defendant on or about Thursday, May 9, 2024, at South 27th Street @ West Drexel Avenue, in
the City of Franklin, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, while operating a motor vehicle on a highway, after having
received a visual or audible signal from a traffic officer, federal law enforcement officer, or marked or unmarked
police vehicle that the operator knew or reasonably should have known was being operated by a law enforcement
officer, did knowingly flee or attempt to elude an officer by increasing the speed of the vehicle in an attempt to
flee, resulting in bodily harm to JH, LH, and/or HM, contrary to sec. 346.04(3) and 346.17(3)(b), 939.50(3)(g)
Wis. Stats.

Upon conviction for this offense, a Class G Felony, the defendant may be fined not more than Twenty Five
Thousand Dollars ($25,000), or imprisoned not more than ten (10) years, or both.

And furthermore, invoking the provisions of Wisconsin Statute 343.31(3)(d)2, upon conviction the department
shall revoke the defendant's operating privileges for 1 year.

Count 5: SECOND DEGREE RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING SAFETY

The above-named defendant on or about Thursday, May 9, 2024, at South 27th Street @ West Drexel Avenue, in
the City of Franklin, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, did recklessly endanger the safety of others, contrary to sec.
941.30(2), 939.50(3)(g) Wis. Stats.

Upon conviction for this offense, a Class G Felony, the defendant may be fined not more than Twenty Five
Thousand Dollars ($25,000), or imprisoned not more than ten (10) years, or both.

Count 6: NEGLECTING A CHILD - CONSEQUENCE IS BODILY HARM

The above-named defendant on or about Thursday, May 9, 2024, at South 27th Street @ West Drexel Avenue, in
the City of Franklin, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, being a person responsible for the welfare of a child, HM,
DOB 07/12/2012, through his action, for reasons other than poverty, did negligently fail to provide necessary care
so as to seriously endanger the physical, mental, or emotional health of the child, and the child suffered bodily
harm as a consequence, contrary to sec. 948.21(2) and (3)(d), 939.50(3)(h) Wis. Stats.

Upon conviction for this offense, a Class H Felony, the defendant may be fined not more than Ten Thousand
Dollars ($10,000), or imprisoned not more than six (6) years, or both.

Count 7: BAIL JUMPING (FELONY)

The above-named defendant on or about Thursday, May 9, 2024, at South 27th Street @ West Drexel Avenue, in
the City of Franklin, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, having been charged with a felony and released from
custody under Chapter 969 of the Wisconsin Statutes, did intentionally fail to comply with the terms of his bond,
contrary to sec. 946.49(1)(b), 939.50(3)(h) Wis. Stats.

Upon conviction for this offense, a Class H Felony, the defendant may be fined not more than Ten Thousand
Dollars ($10,000), or imprisoned not more than six (6) years, or both.

Probable Cause:

Complainant is an employee of the City of Franklin and bases this complaint on information and belief and on a
review of official police reports prepared by Milwaukee Police Officer, Greenfield Police Officers, Oak Creek
Police Officers, and Franklin Police Officers, which are the kind Complainant has used in the past and found to be
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truthful and reliable and which Complainant knows were prepared in the ordinary and regular course of police
business.

On March 15, 2024, DA (3/9/58) made a walk-in complaint to Milwaukee Police District 6 Officer Kristopher
Maduscha that one of his work vehicles was stolen. DA explained that the vehicle, a white 2012 Ford F350
bearing WI registration plate SV5203 and equipped with a red Boss V-plow, was last parked in the parking lot
located at 3301 South 93rd Street at about 2pm on March 14, 2024 and was noticed to be missing from that
location on March 15, 2024 at about 8am by one of DA’s employees. DA did not give anyone consent to remove
his vehicle during that timeframe.

On May 9, 2024, at about 9:07pm, the Greenfield Police Department was made aware that the DA’s stolen Ford
bearing WI registration plate SV5203 was traveling near the intersection of West Oklahoma Avenue and West
Forest Home Avenue in the City of Greenfield, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Greenfield Police Officer Noah
Rens located the stolen vehicle and followed it until a second squad, operated by Officer Dylan Braatz, also got
behind them to assist with the traffic stop. Officer Rens activated his marked squad vehicle’s emergency lights
and siren as the stolen vehicle turned southbound on South 35th Street from West Forest Home Avenue. The
stolen vehicle accelerated away from the attempted traffic stop, continuing southbound on South 35th Street at
speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour, disregarding a red traffic light at the intersection of South 35th Street and
West Morgan Avenue. The stolen vehicle eventually turned westbound on West Loomis Road and again
accelerated to speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour. The stolen vehicle proceeded, eventually entering westbound
Interstate 894, again reaching speeds over 90 miles per hour, passing several vehicles on the right shoulder, and
weaving in and out of the lanes of traffic. The stolen vehicle exited Interstate 894 at South 60th Street,
disregarded the red traffic light at the exit, proceeded back on to westbound Interstate 894, and exited again at
South 76th Street, violating the red traffic light as it proceeded northbound on South 76th Street. The stolen
vehicle proceeded to turn eastbound on West Forest Home Avenue and again reached speeds exceeding 90 miles
per hour, weaving in and out of traffic, passing vehicles in the right shoulder, and violating red traffic lights at
South 60th Street, West Morgan Avenue, and South 43rd Street. In about the 3300 block of West Forest Home
Avenue, Officer Rens lost sight of the stolen vehicle, but it appeared that a Milwaukee Police Department squad
had picked up the pursuit at about West Forest Home Avenue and South 27th Street. The pursuit was terminated
near South 11th Street and West Lapham Avenue at about 9:17pm. In total, the pursuit lasted about 10.1 miles
and the top speed the stolen vehicle was observed to reach was approximately 99 miles per hour. There were
numerous other drivers on the road that were placed in danger by the reckless driving of the stolen vehicle as it
attempted to elude police.

On May 9, 2024, at about 9:47pm, the Franklin Police Department was made aware that the DA’s stolen Ford
bearing WI registration plate SV5203 was traveling near the intersection of West Drexel Avenue and South 27th
Street, in the City of Franklin, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Franklin Police Officer Ryan Thompson located
the stolen vehicle near the intersection of South 68th Street and West Drexel Avenue and activated the emergency
lights and siren of his unmarked squad to initiate a traffic stop. The stolen vehicle accelerated away northbound
on South 68th Street reaching speeds in excess of 85 miles per hour, disregarding a red traffic light at West
Rawson Avenue and a stop sign at West Loomis Road. Officer Derek Zehetner joined the pursuit in his marked
squad with activated lights and siren. The stolen vehicle turned eastbound on West Loomis Road from South 68th
Street and again reached speeds over 85 miles per hour, then drove on the wrong side of the median into
oncoming traffic. After moving back into the eastbound lane of traffic, the stolen vehicle proceeded eastbound on
West Loomis Road to northbound Interstate 43, exited at South 27th Street and proceeded northbound before
conducting a U-turn In the 4100 block of South 27th Street and proceeding southbound. While making that U-
turn, the stolen vehicle struck a silver Nissan Versa that was waiting at the intersection of South 27th Street and
West Howard Avenue. The stolen vehicle proceeded southbound on South 27th Street, leaving the scene of the
crash, and disregarded red traffic lights at West Layton Avenue, West Ramsey Avenue, West College Avenue,
West Sycamore Street, and South Riverwood Boulevard before turning eastbound on West Drexel Avenue,
proceeding at a high rate of speed again, crashing into a black Mercedes and a red Toyota at West Drexel Avenue
and Interstate 94, striking a crosswalk signal, a traffic light, and several other traffic sign posts before ultimately
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rolling into a ditch and catching fire. During the second pursuit, Greenfield Police Officers Dylan Braatz and
Noah Rens rejoined the attempt to stop the stolen vehicle. Due to the location of the crash, Oak Creek Police
Officer Matthew Hoppe also responded to assist. The second pursuit proceeded for about 12.6 miles and the
estimated top speed the fleeing vehicle reached was 104 miles per hour. The pursuit ended at 10:22pm when the
fleeing vehicle crashed.

The driver of the stolen vehicle emerged out of the driver’s door window, using his gloved hands to remove his
hood and then his ski mask before being pulled from the window of the crashed, burning vehicle. The driver was
identified as Griffin Johnson (8/9/04). As officers took Johnson into custody, the heard screaming from the
crashed, burning, stolen car and ordered the front passenger, 11-year-old HM (7/12/12) from the vehicle. Because
the vehicle was actively burning and HM told officers he was unable to get out himself, officer had to pull HM
from the driver’s door of the wrecked vehicle. Johnson was transported to Froedtert Hospital for treatment and
HM was transported to Children’s Hospital for treatment.

The driver and front passenger of the silver Nissan that Johnson struck while fleeing from police, ARP (6/7/78)
and JUR (5/13/79), did not report injuries as a result of being struck by the fleeing vehicle, but the silver Nissan
did suffer damage.

The driver and front passenger of the black Mercedes Johnson struck while fleeing from police, LH (3/3/05) and
JH (1/24/07) were later seen at Froedtert Hospital and diagnosed with concussions from the crash. The black
Mercedes suffered disabling damage.

The driver of the red Toyota that Johnson struck while fleeing from police, SA (6/5/03), did not report any injury,
but her vehicle did suffer damage as a result of the crash.

Greenfield Police Officer Noah Rens spoke with HM’s father RM (5/13/91) at Children’s Hospital. He advised
that he and HM’s mother AG (3/23/84) had been allowing Johnson to stay with them, HM, and their son DG at
their home and knew that Johnson had been recently released from custody after breaking into a home. RM also
disclosed that Johnson had previously made comments about having a stolen truck. Officer Rens also spoke with
HM’s older brother DG (12/30/03) who explained that he was at home earlier that night when Johnson arrived
and announced that he had just been involved in a police chase, but got away and was now going to find
somewhere to hide the stolen truck after using bleach to wipe away his fingerprints from the vehicle. DG
explained that his brother HM suggested he knew where a good spot would be to hide the truck and began to
leave with Johnson despite DG telling him not to. DG further explained that HM called him after leaving with
Johnson and told him that Johnosn was not stopping for police and that HM was scared. HM told Officer Rens
that he had changed his mind about going with Johnson before Johnson left again in the stolen car, but Johnson
picked HM up and “chucked” him into the truck.

Franklin Police Officer James Fortier conducted an interview of HM at Children’s Hospital. HM explained that
Johnson told him about a stolen vehicle that he needed to “dump.” HM explained that he went outside simply to
tell Johnson to drive safely, but Johnson picked him up off the ground and put him in the truck. HM said that he
tried to get out of the vehicle, but he could not locate a door handle. Shortly after leaving the residence, Johnson
was observed by the unmarked squad and the pursuit began. HM explained that he asked Johnson to stop the
vehicle and let him out, but Johnson would not and repeatedly told HM to turn off his phone as HM was calling
his brother DG to tell DG that he loved him. At the time of the filing of this complaint, HM is still being treated at
Children’s Hospital for his injuries that include numerous bruises and abrasions. Complainant has not yet received
his full medical records and therefore does not know the full extent of his injuries.

Franklin Police Officer Derek Zehetner interviewed Griffin Johnson on May 11, 2024. Johnson advised that he
did not know why he fled from police the first time, but that he fled the second time due to the fact that he had
fled the first time. When asked about HM, Johnson described him as a kid that he lived with and said that when he
returned home after fleeing from police the first time, he told HM that he was involved in a pursuit and needed to
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get rid of the truck. HM then told Johnson that he knew a place that they could “dump” the vehicle and then got
into the truck with Johnson. Johnson denied forcing HM into the truck and denied that HM ever asked to be let
out of the truck during the pursuit. When asked about the vehicle, Johnson said that his Xanax dealer named
“Gabe” simply gave him the truck back in March. Johnson also claimed that he had no idea he struck any other
vehicles while he was fleeing from police.

Milwaukee County Circuit Court records in case number 2024CF2030 reflect that Griffin Johnson (8/9/04) was
charged with Burglary, a felony in violation of Wisconsin Statutes Section 943.10(1m)(a) on May 1, 2024.
Johnson was released from custody in that case under the provisions of Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 969, with a
condition that he commit no crime. That condition of bond was in effect at the time of these offenses.

****End of Complaint****

Electronic Filing Notice:

This case was electronically filed with the Milwaukee County Clerk of Circuit Court office. The electronic filing system is designed to
allow for fast, reliable exchange of documents in court cases. Parties who register as electronic parties can file, receive and view documents
online through the court electronic filing website. A document filed electronically has the same legal effect as a document filed by
traditional means. You may also register as an electronic party by following the instructions found at http://efiling.wicourts.gov/ and may
withdraw as an electronic party at any time. There is a $ 20.00 fee to register as an electronic party. If you are not represented by an
attorney and would like to register an electronic party, you will need to contact the Clerk of Circuit Court office at 414-278-4120. Unless
you register as an electronic party, you will be served with traditional paper documents by other parties and by the court. You must file and
serve traditional paper documents.

Criminal Complaint prepared by Jessica A. Behling.

Subscribed and sworn to before me on 05/14/24 Electronically Signed By:

Electronically Signed By: Sergeant Jeremy Fadness
Jessica A. Behling Complainant
Assistant District Attorney
State Bar #: 1104771