(New York) The question will haunt Waukesha for a long time: why was Darrell Brooks, accused of intentionally dark in the Christmas parade in this Wisconsin city on Sunday, released on November 16 after posting bail of $ 1000?
Because before being targeted by five counts of intentional homicide, the 39-year-old suspect also used a red 2010 Ford Escape to pass over the body of the mother of his child in the parking lot. ‘a gas station on Nov. 2, according to Milwaukee police. On that day, Darrell Brooks was also charged with resisting arrest.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY WAUKESHA POLICE
Darrell Brooks Jr. on November 16
And yet, 14 days later, this man found himself free as the air. Even though he was the subject of another indictment in Milwaukee dating back to July 2020 for illegal possession of a firearm and endangering others – he opened fire on a nephew without injuring him. . A bond of $ 500 had allowed him to leave the prison on February 21.
Certainly, in the aftermath of the tragedy, the town of Waukesha first expressed its pain. Five people were killed when a red Ford Escape smashed barriers and crashed into dozens of parade participants. The victims are Wilhelm Hospel, 81, Virginia Sorenson, 79, LeAnna Owen, 71, Tamara Durand, 52, and Jane Kulich, 52.
In addition to these senseless deaths, there are at least 48 injured. Of these, 18 minors aged 3 to 16 were taken to Milwaukee Children’s Hospital; 10 are in intensive care, 6 are in critical condition.
In reacting for the first time to the tragedy on Monday morning, President Joe Biden wanted to show his compassion.
PHOTO SUSAN WALSH, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden, Monday
“While we do not yet have all the facts and details, we do know this morning that five families in Waukesha are facing the new heartache of a life without a loved one,” he told Home. -White. An entire community is struggling to face this horrific act of violence. ”
A “marital dispute”
But with that compassion comes a certain misunderstanding about Darrell Brooks’ treatment.
On Monday afternoon, at a press conference, Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson revealed that the suspect was involved in a “marital dispute” before boarding his SUV and heading to the city center. this municipality of 72,000 inhabitants, where the Christmas parade took place.
He said the suspect had not been pursued by the police and had intentionally rushed into the crowd.
“We have information that the suspect was involved in a domestic dispute a few minutes before and that he had left the scene just before our arrival,” said the police chief.
As the suspect walked through and entered the crowd, an officer discharged his gun and fired at the suspect to end the threat, but due to the amount of people he had to stop .
Dan Thompson, Waukesha Police Chief
Therefore, the hypothesis of the terrorist act was ruled out, said the police chief. He added that a knife may have been brandished during the marital dispute.
Release criticized
Milwaukee County Attorney John Chisholm was the first to criticize the release of Darrell Brooks on bail of $ 1,000, a sum he said was “indecently low given the nature of the charges” against him. him.
Originally, the amount of the bond was set at $ 10,000. Mr. Chisholm announced an internal investigation into the handling of this matter within his office.
Meanwhile, Cecelia Klingele, a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School, said the purpose of the bail was not to punish or keep accused people in jail before they are sentenced. The purpose of the bond is to induce the accused persons to appear in court, she noted.
“In retrospect, things are still clear,” said the professor in an email to Press. “And so it makes sense that everyone is wondering if this senseless loss of life could have been avoided.
“It’s hard to imagine, however, that anyone could have foreseen a tragedy of this magnitude given Mr. Brooks’ track record,” she added.
This point of view will not be unanimous in Waukesha.
Long criminal record
Darrell Brooks was arrested on November 2 after being accused by the mother of her child of punching her in the face in a hotel room, then following her in an SUV to a station parking lot. -service, where he ran into her with his vehicle, according to the police.
Officers observed tire tracks on the left of his pants.
Extract from a Waukesha police report about the victim
Police also noted swelling on the woman’s lip and dried blood on her face.
The woman was taken to hospital, where she was treated for injuries.
This case adds to Darrell Brooks’ long criminal record. Since 1999, he has been charged with felonies or misdemeanors 10 times. He has been convicted several times and served two terms of imprisonment.
Why was he released on November 16 after posting $ 1,000 bail? The question must have gone through the minds of many citizens of Waukesha who participated Monday evening in vigils in memory of the victims of the Christmas parade.
“Last night the parade turned into a nightmare,” said Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly.
And the information about the suspect is likely to aggravate the pain and misunderstanding.