Crime & Safety

Kids Find Nude Man in Jeep in Downtown Port

The driver of the jeep ignored officers' requests to stop the vehicle, and the nude man was gone when law enforcement caught up.

A nude man in a Jeep caught the eye of two kids walking with their dad in Port Washington's downtown, prompting a call to police and a short car chase — and though the naked man was nowhere to be found, a Milwaukee man is facing charges.

Joseph Whitaker, Jr., was charged Friday in Ozaukee County Circuit Court with eluding an officer and faces $10,000 in fines and 3 years, 6 months in prison; he could also lose his license for 6 months.

A Thiensville police officer was walking with his 9- and 7-year-old boys on May 8 in the lower parking lot of the Holiday Inn in Port's downtown when the kids began running towards their dad talking about a "naked guy in a car down there," according to the criminal complaint. The 9-year-old mentioned that it looked like "the man was doing something that he should not be doing."

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The father contacted Port police, and while waiting for them to arrive noticed the vehicle — a red Jeep — leave the parking lot, the complaint said. When Port officers arrived, he signaled to them that the jeep with the naked man was leaving the lot.

An officer, just feet from the jeep, signaled to the driver and told him to stop, the complaint said. The driver ignored the officer and continued on, but as the jeep drove by the officer noticed a "completely naked," man in the backseat.

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The jeep "rapidly accelerated" out of the parking lot and north on Franklin Street, the complaint said. The officer activated his sirens, however a chase "in the area presented too much of a risk," and he stopped following the vehicle.

An Ozaukee County Sheriff's squad car eventually caught up with the jeep, however the only occupant was Whitaker, the driver, the complaint said. Whitaker denied that anyone else was in the car, and said he ignored the officer's request to stop his vehicle because he was afraid of getting in trouble for a brake light that was out.

Port Washington police said they also received calls about the vehicle driving through several backyards.

Whitaker will appear in court at 8 a.m. May 20 for a status hearing.


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