Court Watching: Judge sends plea deal for David Brooks back to drawing board

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
On Sept. 24, Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Patrick Coletta and defense attorney Michael Vincent met in the chambers of Wayne County Circuit Court Judge James Callahan to present a proposed plea deal for defendant David Ryan Brooks.
Brooks, 25, of Van Buren Township, is a former Romulus Police Officer who is accused of pointing his gun at another motorist during a road rage incident on Belleville Road on May 29.
He is charged with felonious assault, a four-year felony, and felony firearm, a mandatory two year sentence.
Attorney Vincent said if they could approach the judge, “We can settle this.”
The prosecutor and defense attorney met with the judge in his chambers for 10 minutes and when they came out they announced they needed more time.
The defense attorney and the prosecutor determined that they would come back to court with a plea deal the judge liked better on Oct. 15, the date previously set for the final conference. A jury trial has been scheduled for Nov. 19.
Defendant Brooks never entered the courtroom and he, his mother, and two other women waited in the hallway outside the courtroom until defense attorney Vincent came out to tell them what had happened with the judge.
Brooks is out on $50,000 or 10% bond set by Judge Callahan.