This story is reported by WisPolitics, a Spectrum News partner.

Rep. David Bowen claims Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah is lying about an incident in which city officials say Mensah was physically assaulted by protesters.

According to Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride, a group of roughly 50 people on Saturday night gathered outside Mensah's girlfriend's home in protest after he was suspended in July for a third fatal shooting in five years.

McBride said in a statement Mensah "tried to engage in a dialogue with them but was physically assaulted.

"As he retreated into his home, armed protesters approached the rear door and one fired a shotgun round into his back door," he said.

Mensah corroborated that account in a Facebook post, saying protesters "tried to kill me" and adding "a shotgun round missed me by inches."

The incident drew a response from U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Menomonee Falls, who said it demonstrated that "we are teetering on a crisis."

"I am offering my assistance. I stand ready to contact federal law enforcement agencies and bring them to Wauwatosa in order to bring peace and tranquility back to the community," he said in a letter to McBride.

But Bowen, who was among the protestors, disputes Mensah's account.

"What I observed on Saturday outside Officer Mensah's home was an out-of-control, yelling & aggressive man that came out of his house with the goal to provoke peaceful protestors and incite violence," he said.

According to Bowen, D-Milwaukee, much of Menah's account was fabricated.

"No one tried to kill him or his girlfriend. That's a lie. No one tried to enter his home. That's a lie. There weren't several shots fired. Another lie. No protester shot at the back door. That's the biggest lie," he said in a statement.

Bowen confirmed a shotgun shell was fired, but said in the course of engaging with a protester, Mensah "pulled the trigger on that individual's firearm."

"From my own experiences Saturday night and the statements made in the time since, I have concluded that Joseph Mensah's credibility must be questioned. I personally believe that he can not be trusted to tell the truth," Bowen said.

The Wauwatosa Police Department indicated on Twitter it had seen Bowen's statement and fired back "the facts do not support his comments."

"The investigation remains open and ongoing. We anticipate releasing more information once it is completed," the tweet read.

See McBride's statement:

https://www.wauwatosa.net/Home/Components/News/News/2141/17

See Mensah's Facebook post:

https://www.facebook.com/JAMensah5/posts/10217507486751497

See Bowen's statement:

https://www.wispolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/081020Bowen.pdf

See the Wauwatosa Police Department tweet:

https://twitter.com/WauwatosaPD/status/1292962184398544897

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Rep. David Bowen claims Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah is lying about an incident in which city officials say Mensah was physically assaulted by protesters.
 
According to Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride, a group of roughly 50 people on Saturday night gathered outside Mensah's girlfriend's home in protest after he was suspended in July for a third fatal shooting in five years.
 
McBride said in a statement Mensah "tried to engage in a dialogue with them but was physically assaulted.
 
"As he retreated into his home, armed protesters approached the rear door and one fired a shotgun round into his back door," he said.
 
Mensah corroborated that account in a Facebook post, saying protesters "tried to kill me" and adding "a shotgun round missed me by inches."
 
The incident drew a response from U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Menomonee Falls, who said it demonstrated that "we are teetering on a crisis."
 
"I am offering my assistance. I stand ready to contact federal law enforcement agencies and bring them to Wauwatosa in order to bring peace and tranquility back to the community," he said in a letter to McBride.
 
But Bowen, who was among the protestors, disputes Mensah's account.
 
"What I observed on Saturday outside Officer Mensah's home was an out-of-control, yelling & aggressive man that came out of his house with the goal to provoke peaceful protestors and incite violence," he said.
 
According to Bowen, D-Milwaukee, much of Menah's account was fabricated.
 
"No one tried to kill him or his girlfriend. That's a lie. No one tried to enter his home. That's a lie. There weren't several shots fired. Another lie. No protester shot at the back door. That's the biggest lie," he said in a statement.
 
Bowen confirmed a shotgun shell was fired, but said in the course of engaging with a protester, Mensah "pulled the trigger on that individual's firearm."
 
"From my own experiences Saturday night and the statements made in the time since, I have concluded that Joseph Mensah's credibility must be questioned. I personally believe that he can not be trusted to tell the truth," Bowen said.
 
The Wauwatosa Police Department indicated on Twitter it had seen Bowen's statement and fired back "the facts do not support his comments."
 
"The investigation remains open and ongoing. We anticipate releasing more information once it is completed," the tweet read.
 
See McBride's statement:
 
See Mensah's Facebook post:
 
See Bowen's statement:
 
See the Wauwatosa Police Department tweet: