Milwaukee mayor attacked leaving Wisc. state fair

Milwaukee police are questioning a 20-year-old man about the attack on Mayor Tom Barrett Saturday night as he was leaving the Wisconsin State Fair.

Authorities announced a suspect was in custody but had yet to be charged Sunday afternoon. Police in Milwaukee and West Allis, where the fair is located, had the suspect's name after the incident and tracked him down.

Meanwhile, Barrett remained in stable condition Sunday after being attacked with a metal pipe when he and his family were off the fair grounds and walking down a street in suburban West Allis about 10:45 p.m. Saturday.

Barrett heard a woman screaming for help and asking someone to call 911, said Milwaukee police spokeswoman Anne Schwartz.

Schwartz said Barrett responded to the woman's plea and was calling for emergency assistance when a man who had been attacking the woman directed his fury at the mayor. The man charged Barrett and battered him with the metal pipe, police said.

Barrett was taken to an unidentified Milwaukee hospital, where he was expected to remain for all of Sunday, Schwartz said. The mayor was reported have been alert and talking when he arrived at the facility.

Police said the woman who sought help was not injured.

Schwartz said the 20-year-old suspect has a criminal record.

Voters returned Barrett for a second, 4-year term in 2008. Part of his campaign platform included making Milwaukee streets safer by beefing up the police department and entering partnerships with faith-based groups and neighborhood organizations.

Sunday was the finale of the 158th Wisconsin State Fair, which draws scores of visitors from Chicago's suburbs. The event features agricultural competition, bands, beer, food and its signature cream puffs.

Fair spokeswoman Patrice Harris stressed the incident occurred off the event's grounds and did not involve one of its patrons. The fair issued a statement regarding the attack on Barrett.

"His efforts to aid a citizen's cries for help should be praised an applauded," the fair stated. "The thoughts of the fair park management are with Mayor Barrett and his family, and we wish the mayor a speedy recovery from this heinous act of violence."