Police Officer David Brooks arraigned on two felony charges

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
David Ryan Brooks, 25, of Van Buren Township turned himself in to the VBT Police Department on July 31 and was video-arraigned at 34th District Court.
Brooks is charged with felonious assault, which is a four-year felony, and felony firearm, which is a mandatory two years, from a road rage incident May 29.
34th District Court Chief Judge Tina Brooks Green set his preliminary exam for 9 a.m. Aug. 13, and released him on $10,000 personal recognizance bond.
His defense attorney is Michael Vincent.
Brooks is a police officer who currently is suspended from his job at the Romulus Police Department until the investigative process on these charges are complete.
Romulus Police Captain Derran Shelby also indicated Romulus would conduct an internal investigation into the off-duty officer’s actions.
Brooks formerly served as a part-time and then briefly full-time officer in the City of Belleville. Brooks had also been on the staff of the police academy at Schoolcraft College.
His father is VBT Police Lt. Dennis Brooks and his mother is VBT chief dispatcher Terri Brooks.
According to Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Maria Miller, who serves as Communications Director of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, on May 29 at about 3:22 p.m., Brooks was driving a truck and it is alleged he had a traffic altercation with a 62-year-old Romulus man.
Miller said it is further alleged that during the altercation Brooks pulled out a weapon and pointed it at the victim’s face.
The road-rage incident happened in the area of Belleville Road and I-94. Two trucks were involved and one of the occupants was reported to be in possession of a handgun, according to a news release by VBT Lt. Kenneth Floro.
The responding VBT police personnel received information that the suspect vehicle was a black Dodge Ram and the vehicle was traveling northbound on Belleville Road.
VBT police located the Dodge Ram truck and performed a traffic stop on the vehicle, Lt. Floro said. The officers learned at that time that the driver of the Dodge Ram was an off-duty Romulus Police officer.
Lt. Floro said additional officers made contact with the complainant and initiated an investigation. Officers on the scene conducted a preliminary investigation, obtained written statements, and forwarded the incident details to the investigative division.
The VBT Detective Bureau conducted a follow-up investigation and, a week later on June 5, forwarded a warrant request to the Wayne County Prosecutor
Lt. Floro said he personally took two warrant requests to the prosecutor’s office on June 5 and the other request was quickly denied. The one for Brooks was not signed by the prosecutor’s office until late on July 30, almost eight weeks later.
“There are a number of things that have to be done before we can make a charging decision,” said Miller in explaining the delay of the prosecutor’s office.
“It is certainly no secret that the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has been devastated by Mr. Ficano’s cuts and failure to replace staff,” she said referring to County Executive Robert Ficano.
“The Public Integrity Unit that reviews these cases has recently lost four attorneys, all without any replacement. There are currently only two APAs [assistant prosecuting attorneys] in that unit for the entire county. This causes a delay in the work that can be done,” Miller said.
When asked why VBT didn’t call in the Michigan State Police to investigate because the accused’s parents both worked in the VBT police department, VBT Director of Public Safety Greg Laurain explained.
“The incident occurred in Van Buren Township and was phoned in to Van Buren Township dispatch,” Director Laurain wrote in an email on June 13.
“Officers were in the vicinity of the incident, and responded immediately. Officers obtained statements, and all parties were interviewed.
“No related parties have been involved in any way with the investigation,” Director Laurain continued.
“Had the incident involved a Van Buren Township officer, Michigan State Police would be handling the investigation; but as this individual is an officer of another jurisdiction, we conducted the investigation which has been turned over to the prosecutor in Wayne County for review.”
Diane Madigan also contributed to this report.