Driver pleads not guilty to high speed chase charges

A 44-year-old man who has a felony record that includes a 2012 conviction for second-degree reckless homicide pleaded not guilty Monday to leading police on a high-speed chase through Port Washington’s west-side neighborhoods in May.

At one point during the Tuesday night, May 26, incident, Andrew N. Portis of Saukville was driving so fast that the officer pursuing him broke off the chase, according to a criminal complaint filed in Ozaukee County Circuit Court.

Authorities later learned that Portis drove to a senior living facility in Port Washington where his fiancee works, ditched his black SUV, ran in one door of the facility and out another and escaped. He was arrested later that night in Saukville. 

Portis told his fiancee during a phone call that he was running from police officers because he had been smoking marijuana and didn’t want to go back to prison, the complaint states.

He is charged with one felony count of attempting to flee an officer and possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor. 

Portis is charged as a repeat offender because in addition to homicide, he was convicted of resisting an officer resulting in substantial bodily harm in 2017. He was sentenced to four years in prison for the homicide and one year for the resisting conviction, according to court records. He is currently on extended supervision. Both crimes were committed in Milwaukee County. 

This week, Ozaukee County Circuit Judge Paul Malloy bound Portis over for trial during a preliminary hearing.

The chase that landed Portis back in court began shortly after a Port Washington police officer clocked Portis’ southbound SUV speeding on Grand Avenue at Martin Drive. The officer followed Portis as he turned south onto Portview Drive, then east on Lincoln Avenue, continuing to drive at about 10 mph over the speed limit. 

When the officer activated his squad car’s emergency lights, Portis accelerated to about 40 mph on residential streets with 25 mph speed limits, slowing but not stopping at stop signs, according to the complaint. 

By the time Portis turned onto Westport Drive, he was driving even faster and the officer stopped pursuing him. Residents of  the neighborhood were on the sidewalk gesturing to the officer that Portis had continued south.

The officer eventually found Portis’ SUV at the senior living facility with his fiancee behind the wheel. She said Portis was picking her up and had gone into the facility to use the bathroom. Authorities later learned he ran through the building.

Police found a small amount of marijuana in the SUV, the complaint states.

Portis is being held in the Ozaukee County jail in lieu of $5,000 bail. 

Attempting to flee an officer is punishable by a maximum one year, six months in prison and two years of extended supervision, although Portis would face an additional two years in prison if convicted because he is a repeat offender.