Shoeless, Soaking Wet Man Loses Pants During Foot Chase, Police Say

A Milwaukee man lost his pants, his shoes, his dignity and, ultimately, his freedom when he ran from Waukesha police officers in July, according to a criminal complaint.

Aaron B. Burnside, 24, was charged Tuesday in Waukesha County Circuit Court with obstructing an officer, theft and criminal damage to property from a July 22, 2012, incident. He faces up to 27 months in jail and $30,000 in fines if convicted of the three misdemeanors.

A Waukesha police officer found Burnside running out of a pickup truck in the 1200 block of West Sunset Drive after receiving a report that someone had entered the truck. The police officer ordered Burnside to stop, but he kept running, the complaint states.

The police officer started running too. While keeping his eyes on Burnside, the officer saw Burnside drop multiple items that were in his hands, according to the complaint. Still running, Burnside’s pants fell off and he stumbled to the ground.

The officer pointed his taser at Burnside and again ordered him to stop. Burnside again tried to flee, according to the complaint, so the officer discharged his taser – but it malfunctioned. However, the police officer caught up to him and was able to arrest him.

Police located a flashlight, keys, a tool, a tube of ChapStick, soaking wet sweatpants, a cell phone, a wallet and a receipt in the yard.

Burnside, whose clothes were soaking wet, told police he blacked out after partying and arguing with a girl on Prairie Avenue and didn’t remember what happened after that. He had a .203 percent blood alcohol concentration at the time of his arrest.

The neighbors, however, were willing to fill in the missing details.

A dry shoe was found outside the silver pickup truck. The owner of the pickup truck identified some of the items police found in the yard as his.

Another neighbor’s fence was broken and a muddy footprint was found near the fence, according to the complaint. A shoe was found near the pool – and it matched the muddy footprint. The homeowner told police he noticed his pool cover was moved and he believed Burnside had hid in his pool.

Burnside will appear in court on April 29 for his initial appearance.