Officer Trapped in Fleeing Car After Routine Traffic Stop Turns Violent

A routine traffic stop in Glendale, Wisconsin, escalated into a dangerous and chaotic incident that left an officer injured and led to multiple felony charges against a suspect who attempted to flee with an officer trapped inside the vehicle.

The incident occurred around 12:45 a.m. on November 20, 2023, when a Glendale police officer observed a white 2008 Chevrolet Malibu traveling approximately 60 miles per hour in a 40 mph zone near Milwaukee County. The officer initiated a traffic stop and immediately noticed suspicious behavior from the vehicle’s occupants, particularly a backseat passenger who repeatedly turned around and stared at the squad car.

Although the vehicle initially pulled over, officers became uneasy when the brake lights remained on, signaling a potential attempt to flee. The driver, later identified as Eli Thomas, admitted he did not have a valid driver’s license. While the driver was cooperative, officers detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, prompting further investigation.

As officers began removing occupants from the car one at a time, the situation suddenly took a dramatic turn. When the front-seat passenger, 20-year-old Kan, was asked to exit the vehicle, he instead jumped into the driver’s seat and sped away. In the chaos, one officer became trapped partially inside the moving vehicle as it accelerated.

Radio traffic captured the urgency of the moment as officers reported, “There is an officer inside the car going eastbound.” The fleeing vehicle crashed shortly afterward, allowing the trapped officer to escape with minor injuries.

Kan fled on foot through a nearby apartment complex, prompting a large-scale nighttime search involving multiple police units. Officers pursued him across parking lots and open fields, repeatedly ordering him to stop. After a tense chase, Kan was taken into custody without further injury.

A search of the vehicle revealed evidence that elevated the case significantly. Officers recovered a loaded 9mm handgun with a 15-round magazine, multiple bags of marijuana, a digital scale, packaging materials, prescription medications, and other items consistent with drug distribution. Investigators later determined that Kan was a convicted felon, making possession of the firearm illegal.

While the backseat passenger was released after cooperating fully with police, both Kan and the driver were taken into custody. Kan was transported to the hospital for evaluation before being booked into jail.

Kan was charged with multiple felonies, including second-degree recklessly endangering safety, fleeing and eluding an officer causing bodily harm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of THC with intent to deliver. His bond was set at $5,000.

Nearly two years later, Kan was found guilty on most counts. The court withheld his prison sentence and placed him on three years of probation under strict conditions, including 200 hours of community service, full-time employment or school attendance, and participation in anger management and cognitive behavioral therapy programs. If he violates probation, he faces up to four years in prison followed by extended supervision.

Police officials emphasized that the incident highlights the extreme dangers officers face during even routine traffic stops and praised the quick response that prevented further injury or loss of life.