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Charges Filed Against Off-Duty Police Sergeant Who Fired Gun at Southridge

Woman suffered a welt in the back of her leg from the incident.

 

The off-duty Milwaukee police sergeant whose gun fired inside Southridge Mall on Nov. 2 in front of Auntie Anne's Pretzel has been charged with negligent handling of a dangerous weapon, according to a criminal complaint. 

Michael Edwards told Greendale police he was was at Auntie Anne's Pretzel with his fiance when he reached into his left back pocket for his wallet and felt his gun slide down into his pants. He then reached for the gun to stop it from sliding down and that's when it discharged. The . 40 caliber gun did not have a safty and had not been secured in a holster.

Edwards had a bullet hole in the left rear of his pants just below the back pocket, according to the complaint.

The complaint also said that a witness, Amanda Studebaker, was at Auntie Anne’s Pretzel when she heard "a very loud bang and felt something hit the
back of her leg and then felt a stinging sensation." Studebaker suffered a welt on the back of her left leg just above her knee.

If convicted, Edwards faces nine months in jail and/or a $10,000 fine. He is the president of the Milwaukee Police Supervisors' Organization.
 

Related Topics: Accidental Gun Discharge and Southridge Mall

abc def

8:49 am on Friday, December 9, 2011

It's about time that they decided to charge him with something. All the garbage about it being "just a freak accident" was BS. A regular citizen would have been charged immediately. Given this guys standing in the community, he should be held to a higher standard. I don't think jail time is needed...but the $10,000 fine is in line. He should be so thankful that no one got hurt....no thanks to his actions.

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Joseph

10:46 am on Friday, December 9, 2011

If anyone except a police officer did this, they would certainly spent a night in jail, demonized by police agencies, attacked by WAVE and similar agencies, and charged immediately.

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