Waukesha Christmas Parade: SUV Driver Faced Previous Charges: DA

WAUKESHA, WI – The man who has been charged in Sunday’s deadly Christmas parade tragedy in Waukesha was recently released from custody after posting what Milwaukee County District Attorney John T. Chisholm said was “inappropriately low” bail considering the violent crime charges that are pending against him.

Darrell Brooks, Jr., faces five counts of first-degree intentional homicide stemming from Sunday's incident that killed at least five people and injured 48 more, Waukesha police said at a Monday news conference. Officials said that of the 48, two of the victims are children who are currently in critical condition.

Police said that they believe Brooks was involved in act of domestic violence Sunday and was attempting to elude police when he drove his maroon SUV through barricades and entered the parade route shortly after 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Brooks, a Milwaukee resident, was released from custody on an unrelated matter on Nov. 11 after he posted $1,000 despite being connected to previous charges, including those stemming from a previous violent incident when he reportedly tried to run a woman down with his car.

Earlier this year, Brooks was charged with two counts of second degree recklessly endangering safety and being a felon in possession of a firearm. At the time, cash bail was set at $10,000 before it was reduced to $7,500. Chisholm’s office said that unlike other states, Wisconsin requires payment for the full amount of bail set in any criminal case.

In February, the state was prepared to proceed to a jury trial for Brooks, who had requested a speedy trial. However, because another jury trial was in progress at the same court, according to Chisholm, Brooks’ demand for a speedy trial could not be met. Bail was reduced to $500, which Brooks paid and was released.

Brooks was charged in November for second degree recklessly endangering safety, felony bail jumping, battery, obstructing a police office and disorderly conduct. The state requested a bond of $1,000, which he posted.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that a woman reported that Brooks intentionally ran her over with his vehicle while she was walking through a gas station parking lot. The newspaper reported that Brooks had followed the woman to the gas station after the two had fought.

Brooks has an extensive criminal record, according to reports and Chisholm said in a news release that given the most recent charges against Brooks, the bail ordered in his case is not consistent with cases involving violent crime. Citing a criminal background check from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Brooks is listed as a Tier 2 registered sex offender in Nevada.

A background check came back with more than 50 pages of charges against Brooks that go back decades, Fox News reported. In 1999, he received his first felony conviction for taking part in an aggravated battery – for which he received three years of probation, records show. Brooks was also convicted of obstructing an officer in 2005 and 2003. In 2002, he had another felony marijuana charge, Fox News reported Monday.

"This office is currently conducting an internal review of the decision to make the recent bail recommendation in this matter in order to determine the appropriate next steps,” Chisholm said in a statement on Monday.