Man charged with killing Milwaukee police officer pleads not guilty

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The man charged with killing Milwaukee Police Officer Michael Michalski was back in court Thursday for his preliminary hearing.

Jonathan Copeland Junior is facing several charges, including first-degree intentional homicide and a drug charge for possessing heroin. On July 25^th, Copeland is accused of shooting and killing Officer Michalski who was serving a drug warrant for Copeland’s arrest.

Thursday, Copeland was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair. Copeland waived his right to both preliminary hearings and entered not guilty pleas for both cases.

The gallery was packed with his family, Officer Michalski’s family and several Milwaukee Police Officers there to support Michalski’s family. Several police officers, who did not fit in the gallery, lined the walls of the hall leading up to the courtroom.

“We certainly want the family to know that we stand behind them and with them,” Michael Crivello, Milwaukee Police Association President, said. “We want the family to know that the large majority of the community equally stands behind them.”

Copeland is facing life in prison and will be back in court August 28.