Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

‘They got me for murder:’ Copeland faces homicide charges in death of Officer Michalski (WI)
FOX 6 ^ | July 31, 2018 | FOX6 News Staff

Posted on 07/31/2018 12:26:57 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE, WI — The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office issued multiple criminal charges against Jonathan Copeland Jr. in connection with the death of Officer Michael Michalski.

Copeland faces the following charges:

First degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon

Attempt first degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon

Possession of a firearm by a felon

A criminal complaint filed against Copeland says officers were in the area near 28th and Wright on July 25 because Copeland had an “open arrest warrant” for felony drug crimes, as well as a warrant for absconding from Department of Corrections supervision. Copeland was spotted going into a home in the area, and officers went to that location in an effort to arrest Copeland.

According to the complaint, officers arrived at the residence and formulated a plan to search the house for him. Officer Michalski, wearing his police uniform, “began to ascend the rear staircase to the upper floor” of the home after Copeland wasn’t found on the lower floor.

Michalski was wearing a body camera. The video shows as he climbed the staircase, a pile of clothing came into view. There was slight movement in the pile of clothing, the complaint says, and then the “camera view suddenly blurs, consistent with the officer moving rapidly to attempt a retreat.” Gunshots rang out at that time — and the video went black as Michalski fell onto the camera.

Another officer’s body camera captured “Michalski lying motionless on the stairs to the upper floor.” The complaint says Officer Michalski was shot in the head.

Multiple .45 caliber casings were recovered from the upper landing where Copeland was eventually arrested.

The complaint says two other officers were outside and heard the gunfire from inside. One saw a window screen get pushed out of a window and Copeland was seen leaning out from inside. The complaint says Copeland pointed a gun at one of the officers and shot at him. An officer returned fire, and Copeland pulled his body back into the house. An officer then saw a gun (a .45 caliber “High Point” semi-automatic pistol) thrown from the window onto the lawn, and Copeland was heard yelling that his hands were up and not to shoot him. Copeland was arrested on the stairway landing.

It was determined that the door to the upper unit at 28th and Wright was locked, and the complaint indicates Copeland became trapped on the landing — where he hid silently for 10 minutes and “ambushed and shot Officer Michalski” as he began to close in.

The complaint says Michalski immediately fell after the first gunshot and never moved again. Officers carried him out of the stairwell and he was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be a single gunshot wound to the head. His death was ruled a homicide.

The complaint says on the morning of July 25, Copeland sent a text to his wife, in which he appeared to threaten to shoot police if they were to come after him. This, after authorities say on July 23, Copeland’s wife called police to report that he was threatening to shoot up her house because she refused to reimburse him for an expense he had incurred.

In the exchange were texts reading: “Police can’t save you FYI. N I Will pop 1 of they (expletive) if u try to jam me up.”

After his arrest, Copeland told officers “they got me for murder. I shot him,” according to the complaint. While being transported to the hospital, the complaint says Copeland said “I will take it off your waist and put one in the back of your head too,” a statement that was recorded by body cameras.

The Milwaukee Police Department has created a GoFundMe page for Officer Michalski’s family.

Anyone wishing to make a donation may do so at any Tri City National Bank, or you can send any donations to the address below:

Michael J. Michalski Memorial Fund C/O Tri City National Bank 7525 W. Oklahoma Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53219


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: crime; obamalegacy

1 posted on 07/31/2018 12:26:57 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

If they don’t say what race they are, you know what race they are.


2 posted on 07/31/2018 12:29:04 PM PDT by kaehurowing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Perp:

https://localtvwiti.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/copeland1.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&w=267&strip=all


3 posted on 07/31/2018 12:29:46 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Here’s the thing: The Milwaukestan County DA has a long HISTORY of NOT bringing charges in cases like this.

This is HUGE for our state, and most likely the reason the DA hasn’t been lynched, himself.

For the amount of crime there is in Milwaukee, very few officers get killed - which is a miracle in and of itself.

Flags at half-mast through tomorrow for Officer Michalski. RIP.


4 posted on 07/31/2018 12:30:11 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kaehurowing

“If they don’t say what race they are, you know what race they are.”

Yup! The perp’s butt ugly mug is in the article. Holder and Obola would be so proud!


5 posted on 07/31/2018 12:31:55 PM PDT by vette6387
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin
bad negro
6 posted on 07/31/2018 12:32:25 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (MAGA in the mornin', MAGA in the evenin', MAGA at suppertime . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

[ In the exchange were texts reading: “Police can’t save you FYI. N I Will pop 1 of they (expletive) if u try to jam me up.” ]

Sounds like a rap “artist”.


7 posted on 07/31/2018 12:34:42 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Governor Dinwiddie

Looks like 0bola with the big ears, but not quite as flaming gay as the Anklegrabber...


8 posted on 07/31/2018 12:36:26 PM PDT by kiryandil (Never pick a fight with an angry beehive)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: kaehurowing
If they don’t say what race they are, you know what race they are.

You also know that the perp can always play the race card by saying that he was just defending himself from "white racist cops", and walk away with the lightest possible sentence.

9 posted on 07/31/2018 12:38:14 PM PDT by ek_hornbeck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Governor Dinwiddie

I don’t Twitter, but maybe someone who does should send the mugshot and a link to the story to that dim witted highly overpaid que card reader Nazi errr I mean Natalie Portman.


10 posted on 07/31/2018 12:41:55 PM PDT by DAC21
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: All

*First degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon

*Attempt first degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon

*Possession of a firearm by a felon

Feel free to call and ask DEMOCRAT Mayor Tom Barrett how it’s possible that a FELON could even have a GUN in the first place! (This doofus has run AND LOST for Governor, TWICE!)

Mayor Tom Barrett - Office of the Mayor, City Hall, Room 201 200 E. Wells Street Milwaukee, WI 53202, Office Phone: (414) 286-2200


11 posted on 07/31/2018 12:43:44 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Governor Dinwiddie

He must have cut himself shaving.


12 posted on 07/31/2018 12:44:10 PM PDT by READINABLUESTATE (But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.- George Orwell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Governor Dinwiddie

What a surprise. Once again, the perp is someone who wouldn’t look out of place in the streets of Kinshasa.


13 posted on 07/31/2018 12:46:32 PM PDT by ek_hornbeck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Does WI have the death penalty?


14 posted on 07/31/2018 1:00:20 PM PDT by Beagle8U (Liberals can kiss my bitter clingers!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Actually, if he plea bargains, maybe he could be out in time to speak at the DNC 2020 convention.


15 posted on 07/31/2018 1:39:17 PM PDT by Wilhelm Tell (True or False? This is not a tag line.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Governor Dinwiddie

Little ears

Monster lips

Beady eyes

I’m sure he thought it thru


16 posted on 07/31/2018 1:42:48 PM PDT by wardaddy (Hanged not hung.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Here’s what I don’t understand we have all these “questionable shootings” but perps like this who just shot and killed cop, then shot at another cop, and he lives. Surely they could have shot this SOB and claimed that after he threw his first gun out the window , he reached for what looked like another gun, and would anyone say anything about it while your standing at the grave of a fallen police officer?


17 posted on 07/31/2018 1:48:56 PM PDT by shotgun ( .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

I would not be good as a police officer because if I were escorting this guy, I’d definitely make sure that he “accidentally” fell down a long flight of stairs.


18 posted on 07/31/2018 2:02:12 PM PDT by MplsSteve
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson