Crime & Safety
Falls Man Charged With Trying to Hit Officer After Hit-and-Run Accident
Complaint says suspect had to be stunned with a Taser when he tried to break free from cop.
A 52-year-old Menomonee Falls man is facing charges after he allegedly lunged at a police officer and had to be stunned with a Taser when they approached him about a hit-and-run accident in Lannon.
Thomas M. Jahnke was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Thursday with one count of resisting an officer and one count of hit-and-run after he allegedly hit a vehicle going in the opposite direction and continued to drive home. If convicted, he faces up to 15 months in prison and $10,300 in fines.
According to the criminal complaint, at 7:33 p.m. March 6, Jahnke was driving a white cargo van westbound on Highway 74 near Forest View Avenue in Lannon when he allegedly crossed the center line and struck a vehicle going on the opposite direction. The driver of the other vehicle pulled over, however, Jahnke allegedly continued driving home.
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The driver of the other vehicle then called 911 and followed Jahnke to his residence, where officers discovered the van parked in the driveway with substantial damaged that included indications he had traveled on the rim of one of the tires for quite some time.
Officers rang the doorbell and Jahnke answered, but was having a difficult time maintaining his balance and was incoherent. When officers asked Jahnke if he remembered striking anything, the complaint alleges he responded: “I hit some bodies. There were bodies on my windshield and blood all over. I needed to find out what happened.”
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The officer then requested dispatch for someone to look for a possible injured pedestrian and Jahnke then allegedly tensed up and tried to remove his arm from the officer’s grasp. When he realized he couldn’t break free of the officer’s hold, the complaint states Jahnke then tried to strike the officer, who stepped back and then stunned Jahnke with the Taser as he lunged at him.
Officers then administered a field sobriety test, which indicated Jahnke was impaired at the time of the incident. He’s currently free on $1,300 cash bail while awaiting trial.
