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Monday, June 30, 2025

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Darrell Brooks: Waukesha Parade Massacre Suspect’s Criminal Record; Milwaukee Courts Let Him Free

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Serious felony charges didn’t keep him in jail and a “congested” court system delayed trial.

Milwaukee County’s backlogged court system and a DA’s “inappropriate” bail recommendation are responsible for the man in custody in the Waukesha parade massacre remaining on the streets more than a year after he was charged with serious felonies, including a gun offense, Wisconsin Right Now has learned.

The man in custody in the parade horror is Darrell Brooks Jr. He was in court on Nov. 23, 2021, where he was charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide. A 6th victim has died, Jackson Sparks, 8, so he will be charged with a sixth count. At least 60 people were injured when Brooks plowed into the crowd at the Waukesha Christmas parade, authorities say.

Darrell Brooks’ criminal record is extensive: He has two open felony cases in Milwaukee County from 2020 and 2021 and a lengthy string of criminal arrests across multiple counties and states. He also has a social media history with posts about BLM and against Scott Walker and other politicians. He also had anti-police rhetoric.

Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper said in court that Brooks has a criminal record in three states: Wisconsin, Georgia, and Nevada.

He is a registered sex offender in Nevada, she said, but he’s been non-compliant with that state’s sex offender registry since 2016, and there is an active warrant for his arrest there as a result. She said he was also arrested in May 2021 for battery, family violence – while out on $500 bail in the first pending Milwaukee felony case.

Read the criminal complaints here for both open cases in Milwaukee County. He was released on $500 bail in the 2020 case (reduced from $7,500) and $1,000 bail in the 2021 case, which DA John Chisholm has labeled inappropriate, promising an investigation.

Criminal Complaint; 2021CF004596; Brooks, Darrell Edward, Jr_16180658_1

Criminal Complaint; 2020CF002550; Brooks, Darrell Edward, Jr_12731163_1

He’s a 39-year-old felon from Milwaukee County, and the Milwaukee Court system suspended his speedy trial rights due to “court congestion,” releasing him on $500 bail in the 2020 case even though he was facing serious weapons and other felony charges. He’s accused of shooting at a car containing a family member with a stolen gun in the 2020 Milwaukee case.

In his most recent case in Milwaukee County, court records accuse him of trying to run a woman over in a gas station parking lot following an argument.

Then, even though he was socked with a string of new felony charges and despite the Georgia matter, he was released again – on $1,000 bail – three days before the parade massacre.

WRN’s Jim Piwowarczyk went to his Milwaukee north-side home listed on CCAP and found two MPD squads there. A red Ford Escape appears on a Google Maps photo for that home and in one of his rap music videos.

Darrell brooks criminal record

The severe court backlogs in Milwaukee County are an issue we wrote about Sept. 18, 2021, but that the other media have shown little interest in. We reported then that Milwaukee County criminal courts are operating with a two-year backlog, and the felony case backlog was 1,615 cases in the latest estimate from late August, the Chief Judge Mary Triggiano confirmed to Wisconsin Right Now.

There was a backlog of jury trials too. Triggiano said in the interview with Wisconsin Right Now that there are 350 cases awaiting jury trial where the person is in custody with a speedy trial request. Some of those cases will be resolved short of trial, and some still have other court activities going on, like discovery requests, she said. The courts were able to toll the speedy trial mandates and are still able to waive them for cause due to the pandemic, she said.

She blamed COVID-19.

The backlogs come as crime skyrockets in Milwaukee.

“We’ve taken this pandemic very, very seriously, as well as we should, including the variants…we’re being very careful,” Triggiano told a County Board committee. She likened the court system’s “recovery efforts” to a “dimmer switch,” where the system goes back to normal gradually, not all at once.

The ramification? People accused of very serious crimes are remaining on the streets to re-offend. One of them: The man in custody in Waukesha, according to accusations in court.

On social media, he showed animus toward police and Republicans like Scott Walker and posted unhappiness about the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict and George Floyd death. He also quoted Malcolm X.

Darrell Brooks Criminal Record:

Pending case filed Nov. 5, 2021 in Milwaukee County

Darrell brooks criminal record

Posted $1,000 bail on Nov. 19, 2021.

Pending Case Filed July 2020 in Milwaukee County

Darrell brooks criminal record

In June, 2021, the court records contain this passage (our bold), “Matter scheduled for Jury Trial. Parties are ready to proceed. Due to court congestion, Court is unable to hear jury trial at this time. Defense counsel advises Court that there is a new offer and requests a plea hearing date. Case adjourned, Br. 46. Plea hearing scheduled for August 31, 2021 at 09:15 am.”

In February 2021, this entry: “Case set for Status as to Jury Trial. The Court is in jury trial on another matter and makes a record of the history of this case. Due to reasons stated on the record, the court is unable to honor the speedy trial demand in this case. Defense bail motion argued and GRANTED by the Court. The Court lowered cash bail to $500.00. All previous conditions remain. The court TOLLED TIME LIMITS until next court date. Case adjourned, Branch 46.”

When was the trial originally set for? “SPEEDY Jury Trial scheduled for February 8, 2021 at 09:00 am. Trial will be held in Room 629 of the Courthouse.”

Darrell Brooks Past Criminal Cases

His past record consists of bail jumping, marijuana offenses (including felonies), obstructing an officer, and substantial battery. He is a felon.

There is a Darrell Edward Brooks with the same year of birth who is a registered sex offender in Nevada, and it turned out that it is the same Darrell Brooks. However, he appears to admit to this in a video, saying the victim was 16.

Darrell Brooks Arrest History

We’ve obtained his Department of Justice criminal record history. See it here.

It shows these arrests. Many cases were dismissed.

1999
Arrested carry concealed weapon
Charge severity: non-criminal

1999
Arrested aggravated battery – great harm (felony) – dismissed
Carrying a concealed weapon (non-criminal) – disposition not reported

2000
Aggravated battery – intent great harm – felony – convicted. Probation
Fourth entry
Carry concealed weapon – non-criminal – disposition not reported
Loitering – non-criminal – disposition not reported
Resisting – misdemeanor – dismissed
Cocaine possession – misdemeanor

2002
Resisting – non-criminal
Take and drive vehicle without consent, habitual criminal, felony – dismissed, no prosecution
THC possession, felony

2003
Resisting – misdemeanor – convicted

2005
Resisting – misdemeanor
Receiving stolen property – misdemeanor – dismissed
Possess controlled substance – dismissed

2009
Paternity warrant, non-criminal
Resisting officer, non-criminal
Resisting – misdemeanor – convicted

2010
Felony strangulation and suffocation – domestic abuse – amended complaint filed
convicted
Misdemeanor battery – DV – dismissed
Criminal damage to property – dismissed, read-in

2011
Probation violation, felony – hold for probation authorities
Extradition request – disposition not reported
Resisting – convicted
Failure to appear
THC possession
Paternity warrant
Possess with intent to deliver THC – convicted possession
Bail jumping – convicted

2012
Probation violation – turned over to probation authorities
Bail jumping felony – no prosecution
Failure to appear (multiple)
Bail jumping misdemeanor (2 counts) – no prosecution
Resisting – no prosecution
Extradition
Possess THC felony – case dismissed

2020
Firearm convicted of out of state felony – charge issued
Endangering safety domestic abuse, reckless use of firearm – charge issued
Possession of meth – dismissed

2021
Paternity warrant – non-criminal

Georgia
May 2021 arrest for battery, family violence. Unclear whether convicted but Opper said he told jail officials he spent 6 months in jail in that state.

Nevada
Registered sex offender. He impregnated a 15-year-old girl. Non-compliant since 2016. Wanted on active warrant.

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(The Center Square) – Josh Schoemann, the only Republican currently in the race for governor next year, is criticizing Gov. Tony Evers’ approach to the next state budget by comparing it to his plans in Washington County.

“In Washington County our budget cycle starts right now, and it’s not due until November. We will propose our budget goals to the County Board in the next couple of months. We will share ‘This is what we’re thinking.’ It gives them months of time to think those through, give us feedback, and [have] that kind of dialogue,” Schoemann explained in an interview on News Talk 1130 WISN.

Schoemann said that is far better than the approach Evers is taking again this year.

“That’s not how government is supposed to work,” Schoemann said. “It’s not the vision of the governor. It’s not the vision of any one person.”

Evers and the Republican legislative leaders who will write the budget have been involved in on-again, off-again budget talks this month. On Thursday, the governor’s office said those talks were off once again because of gridlock in the Senate.

“Ultimately, the Senate needs to decide whether they were elected to govern and get things done or not,” Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in a post on X.

Schoemann’s criticism of Evers is nothing new. He has long been a critic of the governor and has turned that criticism up since launching his campaign for governor.

But the recent criticism was also aimed at other Republicans who may jump into the 20206 governor’s race later this year.

“Nobody else in this race on the Republican side, being rumored to this point, has the executive leadership of skills and history to be able to show ‘This is how I’ve done it before, and here’s how we’ll do it Madison,’” Schoemann said. “The results in Washington County speak for themselves.”

Northwoods Congressman Tom Tiffany is also rumored to be looking to get into the Republican race. Before he went to Congress, Tiffany was a Republican lawmaker in Madison.

Businessman and veteran Bill Berrien is also on the short list of likely GOP candidates for 2026.

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Wisconsin Budget Negotiations Reach Impasse Between Evers, Legislature

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin budget negotiations have reached an impasse with both sides pointing fingers at the other in Wednesday afternoon statements.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said Republican Legislative leaders backed out of negotiations after he agreed to “an income tax cut targeting Wisconsin’s middle-class and working families and eliminating income taxes for certain retirees.” He said Republican leaders would not agree to “meaningful increased investments in child care, K-12 schools, and the University of Wisconsin System.”

Republican Assembly leaders said the two sides were "far apart. Senate leaders say Evers’ desires “extend beyond what taxpayers can afford.”

“The Joint Committee on Finance will continue using our long-established practices of crafting a state budget that contains meaningful tax relief and responsible spending levels with the goal of finishing on time,” said a statement from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Assembly Finance Co-Chairman Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam.

Evers said that there were meetings between the sides every day this week before the impasse.

“I told Republicans I’d support their half of the deal and their top tax priorities – even though they’re very similar to bills I previously vetoed – because I believe that’s how compromise is supposed to work, and I was ready to make that concession in order to get important things done for Wisconsin’s kids,” Evers said.

Senate Republican leadership said that good faith negotiations have occurred since April on a budget compromise.

“Both sides of these negotiations worked to find compromise and do what is best for the state of Wisconsin,” said a statement from Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and Senate Joint Finance Co-Chairman Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green.

In early May, the Joint Committee on Finance took 612 items out of Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal, including Medicaid expansion in the state, department creations and tax exemptions.

Born previously estimated that Evers’ budget proposal would lead to $3 billion in tax increases over the two-year span.

Wisconsin Policy Forum estimated that the proposal would spend down more than $4 billion of the state’s expected $4.3 billion surplus if it is enacted.

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“Title IX exists to protect women and girls in education,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for Civil Rights. “It is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies.”

In February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning males from participating in female student sports, and he has threatened to block California's federal funding for continuing to defy his order. With California facing deficits in the tens of billions of dollars each year, it's unclear how the state would offset any losses or pauses in federal funding.

Notably, California Gov. Gavin Newsom hosted conservative pundit Charlie Kirk on his podcast and told Kirk that he thinks it’s “deeply unfair” that boys are participating in girls’ sports.

When asked later at a press conference what this means for state policy, Newsom demurred, painting the matter as a marginal, non-issue not worth his time.

“You're talking about a very small number of people, a very small number of athletes, and my responsibility is to address the pressing issues of our time,” said Newsom.

The California Interscholastic Federation, which governs student sports in California, has since responded to Trump’s threat by announcing a new pilot program to allow girls who otherwise would have qualified for sports finals had the finalist spots in girls’ sports not been taken by transgender-identifying boys to participate in said finals.

Title IX was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1972 to ensure that schools could not discriminate against female students. It requires they be provided with equal opportunities to engage in athletics, extracurriculars and education.

DOJ’s letter of interest says it is investigating whether California’s Assembly Bill 1266, which requires transgender-identifying students to be allowed to participate in sports consistent with their gender identities, violates Title IX.

“As a result of CIF’s policy, California’s top-ranked girls’ triple jumper, and second-ranked girls’ long-jumper, is a boy,” wrote the DOJ. “As recently as May 17, this male athlete was allowed to take winning titles that rightfully belong to female athletes in both events.”

“This male athlete will now be allowed to compete against those female athletes again for a state title in long, triple, and high jump,” continued the DOJ. “Other high school female athletes have alleged that they were likewise robbed of podium positions and spots on their teams after they were forced to compete against males.”

Should the DOJ find California is in violation of Title IX, it says it will “take appropriate action to eliminate that discrimination, including seeking injunctive relief.”

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