Wisconsin Court Sets $200,000 Bail for Christmas Parade Attack Suspect in Domestic Violence Case

Darrell Brooks is escorted out of the courtroom after making his initial appearance in Waukesha County Court in Waukesha, Wis., on Nov. 23, 2021. Mark Hoffman/Pool/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP

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.

Brooks, 39, was arrested on Nov. 2 after allegedly striking the mother of his child and then running her over. At the time of this arrest, he was already out on $500 bail in Milwaukee for allegedly firing a gun at his nephew in 2020.

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.

During a hearing conducted via Zoom in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on Monday, Judge Michelle Havas agreed with prosecutors’ request to raise Brooks’ bail to $200,000 and ordered Brooks to appear in court in February, Fox reports. 

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.

Brooks has allegedly violated his bail conditions, specifically a no-contact order that he was issued on Nov. 11 pertaining to a witness in the case known as EAP and DW, ABC reports. Brooks has allegedly made 49 calls to the victim, of which 25 made it through, and some have been intimidating.

“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.