Jonathan Copeland, the man accused of fatally shooting Milwaukee police officer Michael Michalski on Milwaukee’s north side, had a long and lengthy criminal record before he was arrested for killing Michalski.
The shooting happened near the corner of 28th and Wright in the Metcalfe Park neighborhood, according to Police Chief Alfonso Morales. Police responded to a call about a suspect wanted on drug and gun violations on July 25. Officers approached and encountered the suspect entering a residence before shots were fired at officers. During the exchange, “one of our members was injured,” Morales said.
Our thoughts & prayers are with the family and friends of Police Officer Michael Michalski, a 17-year veteran of @MilwaukeePolice who was killed yesterday while trying to arrest a wanted suspect. #NeverForget
Copeland was taken into custody in the 2400 block of N. 28th St. on a tentative charge of first-degree intentional homicide, according to arrest logs. A warrant was issued for Copeland’s arrest May 18 after he was charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, court records show.
Morales said during a press conference than Copeland was being investigated for parole violations, possession of heroin, and domestic abuse charges when he opened fire on police officers.
During the press conference, Morales stated that they believe Copeland fired at Michalski and other responding officers until he “ran out of ammunition,” at which point he “gave up.”
A review of court records by Heavy confirmed Morales’ claim that Copeland had a long criminal record, dating back to his juvenile years. Although his juvenile records aren’t accessible to the public, several past criminal cases involving burglary, drugs and weapons were found on Wisconsin Circuit Court Access.
Here’s what we know about Copeland’s criminal history:
Summary of Wisconsin Offenses & Adult Record
The summary of Copeland’s prior offenses can be found on Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, often abbreviated to CCAP. His juvenile records are not included at this time.
- Burglary-Armed w/ Dangerous Weapon (October 5, 2006)
- Possession of Firearm by Felon (December 11, 2008)
- Possession of Firearm by Felon (December 11, 2008)
- Theft-Movable Property-Firearm (December 11, 2008) – dismissed
- Resisting or Obstructing an Officer (December 11, 2008) – dismissed
- Possess w/Intent-Heroin(>10-50g) (May 18, 2018) – still open, arrest warrant issued 5/18/18
Morales said during a press conference that Copeland was being investigated for parole violations, possession of heroin, and domestic abuse charges when he opened fire on police officers. CCAP doesn’t show the domestic abuse charges Morales mentioned at this time, and the homicide charges Copeland is facing regarding the June 25 incident have yet to be filed. Heavy will update as more information becomes available.
Milwaukee Police say 30 YO Jonathan Copeland Jr. is accused of killing officer Michael Michalski. Copeland is a convicted felon, in custody
Copeland Goes By ‘Amir Copeland’ on Facebook & Posted Several Videos of His Wife, Child & Tributes to His “Grams”
Copeland goes by the alias ‘Amir Copeland’ on Facebook. His profile is filled with pictures of him and an infant child, snack foods, and two pictures with different dogs.
A video showing a bed covered in rose petals and a five minute long conversation with his then-wife Tiffany Mcafee, along with several other miscellaneous videos of the same infant child can be found on his page.
The only page Copeland liked on Facebook was “ShumpWorkouts” and his page has little else available to the public. A live video of his grandmother’s headstone can be seen, with the caption “Happy Mother’s Day Grams,” and several public updates that either tag, involve, or were allegedly “hacked” by his wife Mcafee.
One post said: “#Hacked by the wifey i see y’all peaking n looking but he token y’all sorry poons yal had y’all chance yal snoozed n yal lost lol”
On May 10, which was the last update besides the video to his grandmother, he wrote: “All I can say is I love my wife Tiffany Monique Mcafee AND NOBODY WILL EVER TAKE HER PLACE”
He wrote another tribute to his grandmother back in March, stating: “”I REALLY WISH MY GRANDMA WAS HERE TO SEE HER BABY. I LOVE GRAMS”
Copeland is Now Facing Homicide Charges After Opening Fire on Officer Michael Michalski on July 25
Our prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues of @MilwaukeePolice Officer Michael Michalski who was shot and killed last night while protecting the people of Milwaukee, WI. He was a 17-year veteran of the department and is survived by his wife & three sons. #NeverForget
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel released Copeland’s name early Thursday morning and said Copeland is facing a tentative charge of first-degree intentional homicide, according to arrest logs.
Mike Michalski, as he was sometimes affectionately referred to as, worked with the Milwaukee Police Department for 17 years before his life was cut short on July 25. According to the Milwaukee Police Department, Michalski received a merit award in 2017 and 2018 for Excellence in Police Service.
Michalski was also a member of the Special Investigations Division with the MPD and court records show he was a bicycle officer last year. The MPD wrote a post on Facebook six years ago honoring Michalski and another officer for finding four pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop.
Michalski is remembered by Police Chief Morales as a friend who was “well loved” by the Milwaukee Police Department.
“It’s a difficult time for the police department. He’s a 17-year veteran who was well loved by the department and a friend of mine,” Morales said.
A witness gave an account of what happened to Fox 6, claiming Copeland allegedly yelled “I’m not going back to jail,” before unleashing a spray of bullets on responding police officers.
“Apparently it was a stop, and the guy hopped right out of the car and he’s like ‘I’m not going back to jail,’ and he got to shooting out the gate. Just got to shooting. And not only did he hit the officer, but he hit other innocent bystanders that was in the area. As of now, the officer, it don’t look like he’s in great condition right now. It don’t look like he’s gonna make it, to be honest. I stay right there on the corner, so I actually seen everything unfold from beginning to last. It was on the next block. I don’t know if they was getting ready to run into his house, or if it was just a traffic stop, but you could see the man get right out the car and just get to shooting and yelling ‘I’m not going back to jail. Y’all going to have to kill me.”