Maggie Angst, and Jesse Garza

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

A man believed to be the passenger of a hit-and-run driver who killed three women in a crash in downtown Milwaukee has been arrested in Pleasant Prairie, a Milwaukee Department spokesman confirmed Wednesday.

Milwaukee police arrested the 26-year-old Pleasant Prairie resident Tuesday on a warrant that is not related to the crash that killed Amy C. Taylor, 32; Ashley L. Sawatzke, 30; and Lindsey B. Cohen, 35, all of Chicago, according to Milwaukee Police Sgt. Tim Gauerke.

The three women were passengers in a Ford Fusion operating as an Uber taxi vehicle when it was struck about 3 a.m. Sunday at N. 2nd and W. Clybourn streets, police said.

The vehicle was southbound on 2nd St. and had a green light when it entered the intersection at Clybourn St. and was struck by a 2015 Lexus RX 350 allegedly driven by Jasen Randhawa of Mequon, who turned himself in to Milwaukee police Monday.

Randhawa allegedly ran a red light and struck the Ford on the driver's side. Randhawa and the passenger in the Lexus fled on foot, according to police. Police have not released further information on the Lexus passenger.

According to a search warrant completed Sunday, the Lexus RX was leased to Karnjit S. Randhawa, 26, a family member who was listed under the same Mequon address as Jasen Randhawa. As of Monday when the warrant was signed, Karnjit had not been located.

According to the warrant to search the Lexus, police found three cellphones, two packs of rolling papers and six Adderall pills inside the vehicle.

Both Jasen and Karnjit Randhawa have previous records of driving violations.

In January 2015, Jasen Randhawa was arrested for operating while intoxicated. His license was revoked Aug. 5, 2015, and 10 days later he was caught pulling out of his driveway, leading to a charge in Ozaukee County for operating a vehicle with a revoked license. The Ozaukee County case was closed after Randhawa paid a $579 fine.

Karnjit Randhawa was arrested in Milwaukee County for operating while intoxicated in 2013. The case was closed after he paid a $771 fine.

In May 2016, Jasen Randhawa started operating his father's company, JR Gas and Convenience Store LLC, at 2008 W. Center St. He appeared before the Milwaukee Common Council on May 10 to ask to keep the store's extended hours in place.

During the meeting, Ald. Russell Stamper asked Jasen Randhawa, "Do you still drink?"

Jasen Randhawa responded: "If I was to drink, I would make sure I'm not getting behind the wheel."

Vince Bobot, a lawyer who represented Jasen Randhawa before the city licensing committee, said Tuesday that Jasen Randhawa's father called him about 11 a.m. on Sunday and said the police wanted to talk with his son about a traffic accident.

"I advised that he should turn himself in," Bobot said. "I think it's good that he did."

Bobot said he did not know details of the circumstances of the crash, had not talked to Jasen Randhawa and had not been retained to represent him in the criminal investigation.

The three victims, who were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, worked together in Chicago at an advertising agency, Energy BBDO, for a couple of years, before Sawatzke left to work for Leo Burnett about four months ago. They were in Milwaukee on a personal trip, not business, a spokesperson for Energy BBDO confirmed.

Tim Snyder, 41, was driving the Uber vehicle. He suffered cracked ribs and vertebrae and damage to his aorta. Before Snyder was transported to Froedtert Hospital, he told police he picked up the three women from Brady St. in Milwaukee and was going to drive them to the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel in the Third Ward, where they were staying, according to the search warrant records.

A witness, Hector A. Tovar, was also at the scene when officers arrived, according to the records. Tovar told police he saw the driver and passenger get out of the Lexus and flee on foot, without checking on the occupants in the Uber. He tried running after the occupants but was unable to catch up with them. When Tovar then walked over to the Uber vehicle, he said the man in the front seat appeared in shock and the women in the back seat were not responding, according to the records.