Police in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, said a large group of protesters targeted the private home of a police officer, identified as Joseph Mensah, attacking both him and his girlfriend.
Mensah tried to speak with the group, according to the office. However, he “was ultimately physically assaulted outside of his home,” the office said.
When “officer Mensah retreated into his home, armed protestors approached the rear door and a single shotgun round was discharged by a member of the group into officer Mensah’s backdoor,” the release said. “The Wauwatosa Police Department received assistance in disbursing the crowd from numerous neighboring agencies.”
Officials said the investigation into the case is ongoing.
The police department wrote that the Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber and other staff members met to discuss the incident.
He added that “a shotgun round missed me several times (sic),” without elaborating. It’s not clear if he was injured.
According to the Fox affiliate’s report, Mensah was involved in the shooting deaths of three people. Two of the shootings were ruled justified.
The Wauwatosa Common Council suspended Mensah by unanimous vote in the officer-involved shooting death of Alvin Cole in February. The case is still being reviewed.
The city’s mayor, Dennis McBride, noted that “armed protesters approached the rear door and one fired a shotgun round into his back door” in Saturday’s incident at Mensah’s home.
“In recent weeks, various groups have protested in Wauwatosa, demanding that Officer Mensah be fired. The City of Wauwatosa has always supported and protected the right to peaceful protest. Last night’s event was not a peaceful protest; it was criminal behavior. If the perpetrators of this criminal behavior are identified, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law,” he said.
