Criminal Complaint Alleges Waukesha Driver ‘Had No Emotion,’ ‘Appeared To Rapidly Accelerate’ Into Crowd

The alleged driver of a Ford Escape that plowed through dozens of parade participants and spectators on Sunday appeared to have “no emotion on his face” and accelerated toward the crowd, according to a criminal complaint filed against him.

Authorities filed the complaint in the Waukesha County district court on Tuesday, detailing the accounts of several law enforcement officers who attempted to stop the vehicle while it sped toward the annual Christmas parade. At least three officers encountered the vehicle and attempted to stop it, with one firing three shots at it.

The alleged driver was arrested on Sunday and later charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide. A sixth victim, an 8-year-old boy, died Tuesday from injuries sustained when he was hit by the SUV.

The first officer identified as Detective Casey encountered the red SUV as it was driving through the parade’s loading ground on White Rock Avenue, which was filled with participants and other vehicles at the time.

“[Casey] observed people jumping out of the way of the red Ford Escape. As the Ford Escape was at White Rock Avenue and East Main Street, Detective Casey stepped in front of the Ford Escape and pounded on the hood of the vehicle and yelled multiple times, ‘Stop,’” the complaint says.

“The defendant drove past Detective Casey and into the parade procession. Detective Casey chased the vehicle to East Avenue on foot and he observed the vehicle begin to drive faster,” it continues. “Detective Casey broadcast over the radio that the red Ford Escape had entered the parade route and he needed squads to respond in an emergency fashion. A few seconds later, Detective Casey heard on the police radio that the vehicle was striking people and was continuing westbound on East Main Street.”

The SUV next encounters “Officer Butryn.” Butryn stood in the SUVs path and yelled for it to stop several times before it sped through the intersection he was stationed at about 25 mph, the officer estimated.