Milwaukee Police Chase, Squads Crash on South Side; driver accused

MILWAUKEE – A milwaukee man is accused of leading police on a high speed chase in October. Two squadmates crashed during that chase, and prosecutors say it wasn’t the first time he’d been involved in a crash that injured an officer.

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Prosecutors have charged 34-year-old Daubon Pena with eight felonies in the latest case. Court records show he is now jailed on a $50,000 bond.

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Police were searching for Pena, who had several warrants out for his arrest, on the city’s south side last month. One of those arrest warrants was related to a case in which he is accused of causing an accident last summer that injured a motorcycle officer, among others.

According to a criminal complaint, officers eventually spotted Pena driving a gray Kia with Illinois plates that evening around 5 p.m. The officers activated their unmarked squad’s lights and sirens to stop Pena at Layton and Becher, but he made a U-turn and took off.

The chase stretched for more than ten miles along the south side of the city and on the highway, where prosecutors said speeds exceeded 100 mph during rush hour. It ended near 13th and Orchard when Pena jumped out of the still-running car and ran into an alley. The gray Kia rolled and damaged a parked minivan.

During the chase, two pursuing Milwaukee police units collided near 11th and Greenfield, causing significant damage to both vehicles. Three officers were taken to a hospital with non-fatal injuries.

Officers ran after it and arrested Pena shortly afterwards. Court records show the gray Kia was stolen from Chicago in September. Inside the car, police found suspected drugs, digital scales, cellphones and credit cards with Pena’s name on them.

The Milwaukee Police Association told FOX6 News that the officers injured near 11th and Greenfield after the crash needed a few days off work and have returned to their offices; they are not back in the field. MPD confirmed they are back at work.

Court records show this isn’t the first time Pena has been charged in a crash that injured an MPD officer.

In August 2023, there was a multi-vehicle crash near 35th and North. Prosecutors said a black Dodge ran a red light and crashed into a red Mazda Milwaukee County Transit System bus. The red Mazda then hit a motorcycle officer who stopped at the red light.

The motorcycle officer was taken to hospital for treatment. The bus driver and a bus passenger were also taken to a hospital. The driver of the red Mazda was not injured, but the vehicle was severely damaged, according to the complaint.

Video from the MCTS bus showed the black Dodge driving into the parking lane to avoid vehicles stopped at the red light before crashing into the red Mazda, prosecutors said. It also showed that the red Mazda hit the motorcycle officer and pushed him into the MCTS bus.

The complaint states that the video also shows the shirtless driver, since identified as Pena, grabbing a small dog from the car before running away. He was later arrested and court records show he posted a $6,500 cash bond and was released in December 2023.

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In court

At the time of the chase, Pena was out on bond on two different cases in Milwaukee County: one for the 2023 crash, the other for drug possession and driving a stolen car earlier this year.

In total, Pena is now charged with eight felonies and one misdemeanor for the October chase:

• Vehicle driver flees/evades police – causes property damage (two counts)
• First-degree recklessly endangering safety
• Driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent
• Possession with intent to deliver cocaine
• Misdemeanor Bail (three counts)
• A crime involving obstruction of an officer

Court records show Pena is now jailed on a $50,000 bond in the case.