Prosecutors have charged the 20-year-old man accused of attacking Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett Saturday night with first-degree reckless injury, theft, disorderly conduct and bail jumping.
According to the criminal complaint, Barrett and his family members were walking on West Orchard Street from the State Fair to their car when they encountered Anthony Peters trying to get his 1-year-old daughter from her grandmother. The grandmother was screaming for someone to call 911. The mayor went to call 911 and when he did, Peters became "irate and charged" Barrett, demanding he hang up the phone. According to Barrett's niece, Moira Flood, Peters then approached the mayor, swatted the phone from his hand and punched him twice in the face and once in the stomach. Barrett punched Peters in the face. According to the complaint, Peters then pulled out a club or a baton out of his pocket and continued to threaten to kill Barrett and then struck him in the face and head with the club. After Barrett fell to the ground, Peters continued to hit him with the club. Flood told police Peters struck Barrett about six times while he was on the ground. Flood then called 911 and Peters ran, according to the complaint. Peters is currently in the Milwaukee County Jail. A public defender was appointed to his case Thursday morning. |