A Wisconsin judge on Monday set a $200,000 bail for Darrell Brooks, the alleged driver of an SUV that ran over dozens of people—killing six—during a Christmas parade in Waukesha on Nov. 21, as part of a separate domestic violence case.
Prosecutors recommended $1,000 bail, despite his lengthy criminal history and the seriousness of the charges, which he posted on Nov. 11.
Ten days later on Nov. 21, Brooks was reportedly seen by witnesses using the same red SUV to plow into people at the Christmas parade, killing six people with the youngest being an 8-year-old.
Brooks joined the court hearing by phone from the Waukesha County Jail.
His attorney in the Milwaukee cases, Robert Hampton, had argued that the additional $200,000 bail request was unnecessary because his client is already being held on $5 million cash bail for the devastating events in Waukesha. However, Judge Havas disagreed.
“The defendant, while in custody on this [domestic violence] case, made 49 phone calls to the victim that he was ordered to have no contact with. Twenty-five of those calls did get through to the victim,” Matthew Torbenson, who appeared on behalf of the state, told the judge.
“The defendant has violated his bail in a number of ways in a number of manners both while he’s in custody... and out of custody.”
Judge Havas on Monday reasoned that “many things could happen” with regards to Brooks’ Feb. 2, 2022 court appearance, such as someone stepping in to pay off his $5 million bail. The judge defended the move to set an additional $200,000 bail.
“Someone could decide to be a benefactor of Mr. Brooks and post that $5 million,” the judge said. “Someone could win the lottery... which could secure his release in another county.”
Brooks was initially charged with five counts of intentional homicide by Waukesha Court Commissioner Kevin Costello regarding the Christmas parade attack. He is next to set to appear in court regarding that case on Jan. 14, 2022.
