Darrell Brooks trial: Jurors view red SUV - FOX 6 Milwaukee

WAUKESHA, Wis. - Prosecutors called much witnesses Wednesday, Oct. 19 successful the Darrell Brooks trial, charged successful the November 2021 Waukesha Christmas parade attack. Mid-afternoon, the assemblage was taken retired of the courtroom to presumption the reddish SUV. Video was provided aboriginal of that viewing. 

The authorities called 9 witnesses Wednesday, and astir of the grounds focused connected the reddish SUV. 

2 jurors affirmative for COVID

Judge Jennifer Dorow started the time by informing the tribunal that 2 jurors tested affirmative for COVID-19.

The archetypal was excused connected Monday. Dorow said she was notified astir a 2nd juror with the aforesaid wellness interest Wednesday. 

Before polling each juror astir wellness concerns, Dorow said the tribunal had a caller HVAC strategy with aerial purifiers and UV airy system. Also, other sanitation and masks were being provided, the justice said.

When polled, nary of the remaining jurors indicated immoderate concerns related to COVID-19. The justice offered plexiglass panels beryllium installed if jurors felt it was necessary. The jurors did not bespeak that was necessary. 

After the assemblage was excused from the courtroom, Brooks presented concerns astir the jury, suggesting that each juror beryllium tested for COVID-19. Judge Dorow said she would not mandate testing. She said she would besides not mandate masks, noting nary of the jurors were wearing them. 

The justice told Brooks helium had not been exposed, successful her opinion, owed to his region from the jury.

Brooks asked the justice whether "it would beryllium astute successful the agelong run" to guarantee the assemblage had not been compromised. Dorow said nary 1 connected the assemblage had indicated they had been compromised.

"I spot my jurors that they would study if they are not capable to beryllium done the proceedings," said Dorow, noting that she would counsel them again to bash so.

"They indicated they are comfy being there. I would spot them to study to maine if thing changes," said Dorow.

Discussion astir Brooks' beingness astatine assemblage viewing of reddish SUV

Also, anterior to the assemblage being brought backmost into the courtroom, Judge Dorow said she wanted Brooks to beryllium contiguous for the assemblage viewing of the reddish SUV suspected of being utilized successful the Waukesha Christmas parade attack. Brooks continued to question wherefore the assemblage was adjacent being presented this opportunity. The justice indicated it is simply a portion of evidence. 

"Do you privation to beryllium contiguous astatine the assemblage view?" asked the judge.

"I don't spot the crushed to beryllium contiguous for it," Brooks responded. 

On Tuesday, Judge Dorow said she would necessitate Brooks to beryllium present, but the justice said overnight, she thought much astir that determination and changed her mind.

"If that is your determination to not beryllium contiguous for that -- you person the close to beryllium astatine that assemblage view," said Dorow.

Dorow noted determination would beryllium a signaling of the assemblage viewing placed into the grounds "to marque definite determination is simply a grounds of what is done for this proceedings and immoderate appellate purposes if request be." 

Brooks said helium did not consent to being contiguous for this assemblage viewing.

Brooks continued to press, asking wherefore the assemblage viewing of the SUV would hap astatine each if helium was not consenting to presumption it himself. The justice flatly stated, "Your deficiency of consent is not going to halt this assemblage view."

Brooks raised concerns regarding however helium would beryllium secured during the viewing, noting the shackles helium wears successful court. The justice said it would beryllium up to the sheriff's section to unafraid him, but helium would beryllium secured successful specified a mode wherever things similar shackles would not beryllium disposable to the assemblage members. Dorow adjacent told Brooks she would let him to locomotion astir the conveyance earlier the assemblage entered, noting that the assemblage members would beryllium walking astir the conveyance once.

Brooks asked whether helium needed to motion a written waiver if helium chose not to look for this, and the justice said she was not going to necessitate that.

Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper said this "jury view" was discussed with Brooks' erstwhile attorneys successful August. She offered to person Brooks taken down to the reddish SUV during a interruption truthful helium could spot however things would spell if helium were to beryllium present. 

Before the assemblage was brought in, the justice noted a papers filed by Brooks that included the heading: "Alleged suspect jurisdictional situation and mandatory judicial announcement by affidavit." She said she would instrumentality this nether advisement.

Steven Schlomann, IT manager astatine Waukesha School District

Steven Schlomann, IT manager astatine Waukesha School District, was the archetypal authorities witnesser to instrumentality the basal connected Wednesday. Schlomann told the tribunal determination are astir 8 cameras connected a schoolhouse territory spot astatine 222 Maple. He said helium was contacted by Waukesha constabulary astir the cameras and whether they had captured thing connected the time of the Waukesha Christmas Parade. 

Schlomann testified the cameras connected the schoolhouse territory spot are capable to record, and constabulary requested him to look astatine circumstantial times connected that time of the parade. Schlomann said helium recovered video that whitethorn beryllium adjuvant to constabulary and turned it implicit to them.

Robert Stone II, homeowner with information camera

Robert Stone II past testified for the state. He lives connected Dunbar Avenue and has information cameras. Stone told the tribunal helium retrieved footage from those cameras pursuing the Waukesha Christmas parade incidental and turned it successful to police. 

On cross, Brooks asked if Stone saw thing antithetic successful his footage.

"I conjecture not, no," said Stone, adding that, "I was asked to spell done my camera footage."

"Is it beauteous overmuch the aforesaid happening you’d spot if you viewed it each day?" said Brooks.

"Sure," said Stone.

Andrew Amerson, homeowner with information camera

A 3rd idiosyncratic with information camera entree was adjacent to attest for the authorities successful the Brooks trial. Andrew Amerson lives connected Dunbar Avenue and besides has surveillance cameras. 

"My cameras are evident from the street," Amerson said. "Police wanted to look astatine them." 

Leonard Miller, homeowner with information camera

Leonard Miller, different homeowner with a information camera, testified for the state. He lives connected Central Avenue.

"I started looking done my cameras. I saw idiosyncratic moving up my driveway," Miller said. 

"Did you admit them?" Opper asked.

"I did not," Miller replied. 

Around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, the tribunal broke for a little recess. 

Kyle Becker, Waukesha Police Department

Next to instrumentality the basal for the authorities was Waukesha Police Officer Kyle Becker. Prosecutors indicated helium was portion of a hunt squad canvassing the country instantly pursuing the Waukesha Christmas parade incident. 

Becker testified astir the items that investigators located astatine a residence connected Maple, including a bluish sandal.

"I thought Mr. Brooks mislaid the archetypal sandal jumping the fence, "Becker said. "I located the grey hooded sweatshirt that Brooks was wearing successful the parade, and successful adjacent proximity was the different sandal," said Becker.

On cross, Brooks asked Becker if items are "usually kept for this magnitude of time.

"Yes. Until the probe is complete," said Becker. 

Jury views reddish SUV

Around 11:35 a.m., assemblage members were instructed they would get an accidental to presumption the reddish SUV tied to this case, held successful a unafraid store arsenic portion of the tribunal complex. The tribunal went into recess astatine that constituent portion the assemblage was gone. 

NOTE: Despite earlier objections astir going to presumption the reddish SUV with the jury, FOX6 News learned the suspect did, indeed, spell to the assemblage presumption of the SUV.

Justin Rowe, Waukesha Police Department detective 

After the break, Justin Rowe, Waukesha Police Department detective, took the stand. He was tasked with going to the Maple Avenue country to hunt for items discarded by Darrell Brooks.

He said connected Maple, they came crossed a sandal, and the different 1 was recovered a abbreviated region from there, on with a grey sweatshirt. 

Rowe testified helium reviewed aggregate surveillance video clips from the Waukesha School District and homeowners and was asked astir thing of value that helium saw.

"There is simply a reddish blur adjacent the bottommost of the driveway. That’s Darrell Brooks, and you’ll spot him transverse the street," Rowe said of 1 video successful particular.

Ryan Schultz, Wisconsin State Patrol 

Next up for the authorities was Ryan Schultz, Wisconsin State Patrol mechanical inspector. 

Schultz testified helium looked astatine the SUV to spot if determination was thing incorrect with it anterior to the clang that would person contributed to it crashing.

A 10-page clang reconstruction study was submitted by the authorities arsenic an exhibit. Brooks became upset, noting this grounds was not labeled for him, speaking nether his breath. The justice had to pass the assemblage to disregard his statements.

Schultz testified it was requested to travel to the State Crime Lab for inspections of the reddish SUV.

"The conveyance had rather a spot of beforehand extremity damage, hood folded up successful the air, determination was rather a spot of debris stuck connected it..." helium said.

Schultz said the brakes connected the SUV were successful "good, moving condition," and the brakes inactive "fully" functioned aft the crash. He said the tires were "evenly worn."

He said determination were nary obstructions to the throttle pedal, which acted conscionable arsenic it should. The powerfulness steering strategy was besides moving properly.

He testified helium did not unfastened the hood of the conveyance due to the fact that of the DNA grounds connected it.

Schultz said erstwhile helium ran the ignition, determination were nary diagnostic codes that came up. He said determination were nary recalls connected this vehicle, lone an extended work warranty from Ford that elapsed owed to the vehicle’s mileage.

Schultz was asked if helium observed thing that would person prevented the conveyance from stopping of the brake pedal was applied, and helium said "no." Deputy District Attorney Lesli Boese followed up by asking whether helium observed thing that would person contributed to the crashes the SUV was progressive in. He said "no." 

On Cross, Brooks asked Schultz whether helium saw immoderate slug holes successful the SUV, and helium said, "There was much than one." He said helium did not find immoderate ammunition casings during his inspection of the SUV successful December 2021.

Brooks asked whether anyone attempted to commencement the conveyance betwixt the clang and his inspection, and Schultz said, "To my knowledge, no," but helium did not cognize for sure.

Brooks past asked for clarity connected his grounds regarding 1 of the tires connected the vehicle, which was larger.

"One larger tyre connected the conveyance would evidently marque the conveyance thin ever truthful somewhat toward the tyre that is larger than the others…" helium said.

He said successful this case, determination was astir three-quarters of an inch quality successful tallness but said this wouldn't marque overmuch of a difference, conscionable inflicting tiny deterioration and teardrop implicit time. Brooks asked if this would person created a "pull" connected the vehicle, and Schultz said "no."

Brooks besides questioned Schultz astir the precocious beams connected the SUV. The suspect besides asked whether Schultz inspected the full engine, and Schultz said "no." The witnesser said determination was a coolant leak successful that determination was nary coolant successful the vehicle. Brooks questioned Schultz astir a escaped shot associated successful the beforehand near of the vehicle. Brooks asked however this would impact the vehicle, and Schultz said it would lone deterioration down, yet causing the instrumentality not to beryllium capable to steer, but the instrumentality connected the reddish SUV was inactive steerable.

Schultz said determination was trouble starting the vehicle, referencing his grounds astir gas.

Brooks besides questioned Schultz astir the study helium wrote, and Schultz said the high-mount brake lamp was inoperable erstwhile helium inspected it, meaning idiosyncratic traveling down the reddish SUV would not beryllium capable to spot the brake airy that's located connected the hatch of the SUV. His study stated it was not known if this was moving earlier the crash.

"I would person nary mode to archer erstwhile that airy bulb went out," said Schultz. 

On redirect, Boese referenced the high-mount lamp and asked whether the near brake airy was working, and Schultz said the near halt lamp was working. Boese past asked astir the shot associated and whether you tin safely run a conveyance if the shot and socket associated is not separated. Schultz said "yes," and helium said the shot and socket were not separated connected this vehicle.

Boese past asked if the motor controls acceleration, braking, steering oregon cogwheel shifting. He said "no."

Boese past asked for clarification connected what was leaking from the vehicle, if anything.

"Yes, truthful h2o pump, h2o coolant, it’s each interchangeable arsenic acold arsenic the cooling strategy for the motor goes, and the cooling strategy was debased astatine the clip of the inspection and had been leaking, but from where, I don’t know," said Schultz.

Boese past asked if that controls the steering, the braking oregon the acceleration, and Schultz said "no."

Finally, Boese asked if the usage of the precocious beams connected the SUV would person been immoderate assistance if the conveyance was coming up down people, and Schultz said "no."

Judge Dorow admonishes Brooks: ‘I don’t find it funny'

After sending the assemblage disconnected for a 15-minute day break, the justice asked Brooks what helium was referring to erstwhile helium said, "That’s hilarious." Brooks said helium was referring to the information helium saw immoderate of the questions helium asked were overruled, but the authorities could ask, and his objections were thrown to the side. 

"I conscionable deliberation that’s funny," Brooks said. 

"Well, sir, I don’t find it funny," Dorow said.

Dorow noted connected April 22, the authorities filed a announcement of adept naming Inspector Schultz arsenic an adept witnesser and indicated helium would attest accordant with his report. She said she directed his attraction to statutes and rules of grounds dealing with adept grounds and that’s wherefore she didn’t halt during grounds due to the fact that the objection to not having an grounds sticker connected his study would not forestall the tribunal from receiving the grounds erstwhile the due instauration was laid. 

Dorow noted Brooks made disparaging remarks during the process. 

Brooks said she was assuming incorrectly. 

The justice said it was important helium show courtesy and decorum done the proceedings. 

Brooks asked whether the witnesser felt disrespected.

Dorow said she was not going to prosecute successful the back-and-forth. 

Brooks said her observations were incorrect and rolled his eyes. 

Dorow said it’s her occupation to guarantee the justice exercises tenable power implicit the questioning of witnesses… avoids needless depletion of time, protects witnesses from harassment oregon undue embarrassment… and intervene erstwhile starring questions whitethorn beryllium utilized to make the witness’ testimony.

Boese said she took enactment of 1 of Brooks’ comments. His effect was, "Stop trying to beryllium slick." 

"Yes, I did accidental that," said Brooks.

Brooks was inactive rambling arsenic the tribunal went into a 15-minute break.

Chris Johnson, Wisconsin State Crime Lab

Next up for the authorities aft the day interruption was Chris Johnson, main of the Office of Crime country effect for the part of forensic sciences wrong the Wisconsin State Crime Lab. He testified that helium has processed "several" vehicles that person been progressive successful fatal collisions with pedestrians.

He talked astir however helium was called retired to Maple Street to process a conveyance abandoned successful a driveway. He responded with a transgression country effect photographer.

"It was reported to maine that the conveyance was much than apt progressive successful moving done the Waukesha Christmas Parade," said Johnson.

Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper past began showing Johnson photos of the vehicle.

When asked if determination were plans to determination the vehicle, Johnson described a "scene approach, country appraisal and country processing strategy."

"My thought and my processing strategy this peculiar nighttime was to cod thing that would beryllium fragile successful quality disconnected of the conveyance and past get it transported to a much environmentally affable installation to proceed processing successful the consequent days," said Johnson.

As for the "fragile" items, Johnson described items successful the gait of the adjacent home, including immoderate introspection gloves and a wintertime hat, on with a headband astir the operator doorway reflector of the SUV, which was broken. Johnson noted during transport, this point would person astir apt fallen off.

He said the beforehand bumper of the SUV had to beryllium lifted up with bungee cords and resecured for the tow motortruck transport truthful that it would not beryllium further damaged.

Johnson said from Maple Street, the SUV was taken to the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department's unafraid facility.  

Johnson said the wrong and extracurricular of the conveyance were inspected.

"Based connected my erstwhile experience, looking for aboveground types that mightiness incorporate imaginable DNA evidence, truthful specifically, thing that’s successful the conveyance that would person been handled to power the vehicle, oregon handled successful a repetitive mode oregon with immoderate benignant of force," said Johnson.

He said helium recovered a chapeau connected the beforehand rider spot cushion.

He said a detachable hood from a overgarment and a wintertime chapeau were recovered pinned to the windshield by a windshield wiper limb and the "crumpled hood."

He said determination was paperwork wrong the conveyance that had the sanction "Darrell E. Brooks" connected it.

Brooks admonished again for "constant mumbling, interruptions"

The justice excused the assemblage for a ineligible discussion, and Brooks astir got removed to the adjacent courtroom owed to his interruptions. Brooks was upset aft it was noted that Opper placed immoderate grounds connected the array for Johnson, the witness.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. On the table? How did it get connected the table?" Brooks asked.

"You are good alert the tribunal made immoderate pre-trial rulings related to whether the parties could attack the witnesser stand, and I did that due to the fact that you’re successful custody, and I’m not going to let you to attack the witnesser basal portion successful custody. That is wherefore assorted precautions person taken spot to bounds that from happening…" said Dorow. "We’ve had bailiffs instrumentality items up to the witnesser stand, oregon items person been fixed to the witnesses, oregon they’ve been placed connected the witnesser stand. That’s proper… No 1 is pulling a accelerated 1 connected you. No 1 is doing thing that is prohibited by this court… Frankly, from my position sir, your comments are an effort to excavation successful astatine this assemblage to someway make uncertainty astir this lawsuit oregon the fairness of these proceedings…"

"I’ve taken the assemblage retired astatine this constituent to admonish you that immoderate further mumbling nether your enactment oregon not recognizing erstwhile I uphold oregon prolong an objection…. I’m not holding you successful contempt. I’m good alert that that’s 1 of my options…" Dorow added.

Dorow gave Brooks a warning.

"Do not interrupt again. If this assemblage comes backmost oregon erstwhile they travel backmost and you bash that, past you volition beryllium removed, and you volition forfeit your close to beryllium contiguous for the introspection of this witness," said Dorow.

Brooks responded by saying, "You mightiness arsenic good region maine then." Brooks told the justice she did not cognize what helium was trying to do.

"You’re making a grounds of maine trying to look bad. It’s not going to work!" said Brooks.

As Brooks yelled, Dorow advised Brooks to beryllium respectful.

"Don’t cipher archer maine what to do. I don’t archer cipher other what to do. I’ve ne'er told you to bash thing astatine all," said Brooks. "I’m a grown antheral with grown kids. Don’t cipher speech to maine similar that. Nobody."

With the assemblage backmost successful the courtroom, Johnson was shown photos of a slug spread successful the windshield. He testified it apt shattered the backmost close model and past went done the windshield. 

He past described the process of swabbing the steering instrumentality and cogwheel displacement for DNA. He noted that covering items worn by an individual, specified arsenic the chapeau connected the rider seat, are a truly bully root of DNA.

Brooks began his cross-examination of Johnson by asking astir the DNA analysis. Brooks specifically asked if Johnson, who did not execute the DNA analysis, knew the results. Johnson said helium spoke with the researcher who performed the DNA analysis, but helium said "I don't cognize the nonstop results, no."

The witnesser was asked by Brooks astir the headband connected the conveyance and however it got there. Johnson said it apt got determination erstwhile the conveyance came into interaction with thing oregon idiosyncratic who was wearing it. Brooks asked if helium knew that for sure, and helium said "no."

Brooks asked questions astir the securing of the bumper for transport and wherefore the SUV was taken from the scene.

"It’s easier to bash examinations successful a controlled environment," said Johnson.

Brooks asked astir the chapeau that was recovered successful the backyard and whether it had immoderate relevance to the vehicle.

"It was an point of grounds oregon imaginable point of grounds that conscionable seemed retired of place, truthful successful those types of situations, I ever cod those types of items," said Johnson.

Johnson was asked astir the photos shown during his testimony, which helium said were taken implicit aggregate days. He said the introspection of the conveyance itself took "probably implicit 40 hours," not including the study helium wrote, which was a summary of his inspection.

"The conveyance needed a broad evaluation, processing, introspection of beauteous overmuch each broadside and aboveground of that vehicle," said Johnson.

On redirect, Opper asked what Johnson meant erstwhile helium said the conveyance was secured erstwhile helium arrived connected Maple Street.

"The perimeter was secured with transgression country tape, and determination were officers that were lasting astatine the determination wherever the conveyance was," said Johnson.

He said anyone that would person travel up to the conveyance would person been stopped by instrumentality enforcement. 

Trevor Naleid, elder forensic analyst

The state's past witnesser Wednesday was Trevor Naleid, Wisconsin Department of Justice State Crime Lab elder forensic idiosyncratic successful the DNA investigation unit.

Naleid testified helium has worked with DNA samples astir 175 times during his training. He said helium has worked conscionable implicit 500 forensic DNA cases, and helium has processed implicit 2,000 DNA samples.

Naleid said helium developed DNA profiles from the swabs of the steering instrumentality of the SUV.

"It was a two-person substance with astatine slightest 1 male," said Naleid, adding that helium was capable to place those radical utilizing software.

Naleid was questioned astir the software, and helium said it had been accepted successful Wisconsin courts much than 100 times since it was brought online successful January 2020.

After analyzing the two-person uncovering connected the steering instrumentality with the software, Naleid said, "Based connected it being a two-person mixture, Erika Patterson and Darrell Brooks are some precise beardown enactment for inclusion."

He said the swab of the cogwheel displacement was a three-person substance with astatine slightest 1 antheral contributor. The bundle effect was "the aforesaid arsenic the steering wheel."

"So Erika Patterson and Darrell Brooks are some precise beardown enactment for inclusion," said Naleid.

In layman's terms, Naleid said it was astatine slightest 1 quadrillion times much apt the DNA was from Brooks/Patterson (and idiosyncratic other for the cogwheel shift) versus 3 random people. 

As for the chapeau that was recovered successful the SUV, Naleid said it was a two-person substance with astatine slightest 1 antheral contributor.

"Erika Patterson has a precise beardown enactment for exclusion. Darrell Brooks has beardown enactment for exclusion. Wilhelm Hospel (Milwaukee Dancing Grannies unpaid killed successful the parade attack) has precise beardown enactment for inclusion. He is supra that 1 quadrillion threshold that we have," said Naleid.

A sweatshirt was besides analyzed. He said a reddish brownish stain connected the close sleeve tested presumptive affirmative for blood. Five hairs were besides retrieved. Naleid said the DNA was a three-person substance with astatine slightest 1 antheral contributor, with the aforesaid substance connected the cuff links. The stain was a two-person substance with astatine slightest 1 male.

Using the software, Naleid said arsenic to the collar and the cuffs, "Mr. Brooks has precise beardown enactment for inclusion." As to the stain, "Both Erika Patterson and Darrell Brooks person precise beardown enactment for inclusion."

On cross, Brooks asked for clarification connected what Naleid meant erstwhile helium said DNA "mixture."

"A substance conscionable means that it is much than 1 idiosyncratic contiguous successful the profile," said Naleid.

Brooks questioned Naleid astir wherefore it took truthful agelong for his investigation to beryllium completed. The witnesser noted the evidentiary items weren't received until January, and helium completed his study successful April. Naleid said helium generated 583 pages, and his last study was 15.

Brooks besides questioned the witnesser astir the process of obtaining the evidentiary items and wherever they went aft helium was done with them. Naleid said they were unsealed erstwhile helium began his analysis, and they were returned to the grounds technician and enactment backmost into retention erstwhile helium was done.

Brooks asked astir the "three-person mixtures" and questioned whether determination is DNA that was recovered that is inactive unknown.

"That's correct," said Naleid.

On redirect, Opper asked astir the root of the hairs connected the sweatshirt. Naleid said Darrell Brooks was the source.  

Brooks expected to telephone witnesses Thursday 

Jury instructions were work to the assemblage soon earlier 6 p.m.

The justice ordered tribunal to statesman astatine 9 a.m. Thursday, and she said she would determine successful the greeting whether Detective Casey, who antecedently testified, could beryllium recalled by the authorities for further questioning.

That would beryllium the state's past witness.

Opper besides indicated she would person a question Wednesday morning.

Brooks noted helium had completed the requested bid of his witnesses. He said helium organized the witnesses by threes, guessing the archetypal 3 would beryllium Thursday morning, the adjacent 3 Thursday afternoon/evening, the adjacent 3 Friday greeting and the adjacent 3 Friday afternoon/evening.

As of Wednesday evening, Brooks stated helium was not definite whether helium would beryllium testifying himself.

Christmas parade attack

Prosecutors accidental Brooks drove a reddish SUV done the parade way connected Nov. 21, 2021, sidesplitting six and injuring much than 60 others. 

On Nov. 21, 2021, according to prosecutors, Brooks met up with his ex-girlfriend successful Frame Park, the aforesaid pistillate helium is accused of moving implicit with his reddish SUV earlier successful November 2021. She told constabulary they argued successful his SUV earlier helium started driving, and helium "was driving astir with 1 manus and striking her successful the look with his different hand." She yet got retired and called her friends for help.

Soon aft that, according to prosecutors, Brooks drove that reddish SUV done the parade route, sidesplitting Jackson Sparks, 8, Virginia Sorenson, 79, LeAnna Owen, 71, Tamara Durand, 52, Jane Kulich, 52 and Wilhelm Hospel, 81. More than 60 others were hurt.