A Detroit police officer was charged with manslaughter after fatally beating a 71-year-old man who allegedly caused a disturbance and refused to leave a bowling alley, prosecutors say.
Juwan Marquise Alexander Brown, 29, was charged with the crime, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, in connection with the death of Daryl Vance of Detroit, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office announced Tuesday.
Brown was sent to the Garden Bowl, a popular bowling alley in Midtown Detroit, after an employee called for help on September 1.
After a “verbal confrontation” between Brown and Vance, the officer allegedly punched the 71-year-old man in the face, causing him to fall and hit his head on the sidewalk.
Vance was rushed to a Metro Detroit hospital for treatment but died 20 days later.
Juwan Marquise Alexander Brown, 29, was charged with manslaughter after he was accused of fatally beating a 71-year-old man who refused to leave a bowling alley
Brown was charged in connection with the death of Daryl Vance of Detroit, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office announced Tuesday
After a 'verbal confrontation' between Brown and Vance, the officer allegedly punched the 71-year-old man (photo) in the face, causing him to fall and hit his head on the sidewalk.
'Police officers often deal with citizens who are disorderly and verbally unpleasant. But the evidence in this case shows that the officer would have been the aggressor,” prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement.
She said Brown's actions “criminally went beyond what was necessary in this situation” and “cannot be tolerated by law enforcement.”
The fatal attack stemmed from an argument around 7 p.m. on September 1, after bowling alley staff reported Vance was drunk and causing a disturbance.
The unnamed employee said Vance refused to leave the company because he was acting “disorderly” and may have been armed, the spokesperson said. local reports.
Brown, who was called to the scene, got into an argument with the 71-year-old and punched him in the face. It is unclear what the argument was about and why the officer felt the need to hit the suspect.
Vance was transported to a local hospital, where he died three weeks later on September 21.
The Wayne County Medical Examiner determined the 71-year-old died of blunt force trauma to the head from the impact, the prosecutor's office said.
The fatal attack stemmed from an argument around 7pm on September 1, after bowling alley staff reported Vance was drunk and causing a disturbance.
The unnamed employee said Vance refused to leave the company because he was behaving “disorderly” and may have been armed, according to local reports
Brown was suspended from the force after authorities reviewed body camera footage of the fight, Detroit police said in a statement.
'Mr. Brown has been terminated from the Detroit Police Department as a result of his actions on September 1, 2023,” the statement read.
Detroit Police Chief James White said the decision to suspend Brown “was influenced by concerns that the officer did not at least adequately de-escalate or disengage from the situation.”
“While responding, the officer encountered an individual in his 70s who appeared to be in an intoxicated state,” White said. the Detroit News.
“A video downloaded from the officer's body-worn camera shows that the officer attempted several times to ask and then order the person causing the disturbance to leave the area, but he refused to comply.
“In the video, it appears the individual punches the officer in the head and the officer responds by punching the individual in the jaw.
“This resulted in the individual falling and likely hitting his head on the ground,” White said, adding that he also ordered a parallel investigation by the Homicide Task Force led by the Michigan State Police and the Force Investigation Unit of the DPD.
Brown pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Wednesday and was granted a $100,000 personal bond
According to Detroit police, the officer plans to appeal the suspension.
'Mr. Brown is exercising his contractual right to appeal the termination decision,” the statement said.
“During the hearing of an appeal, if requested, Mr. Brown will remain off the DPD payroll and will have no law enforcement authority.”
Brown pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Wednesday and was granted a $100,000 personal bond.
His attorney, Matthew Forrest, said the officer has no criminal history and has worked as a Detroit police officer for about seven years, as reported by ABC.
Forrest argued that the defendant has extensive ties to the Detroit area and a seven-year-old son.
“When we were made aware that charges had been filed, we agreed that Mr. Brown would turn himself in for arraignment today,” Forrest told the court.
'He is certainly not a flight risk. He is not a danger to the community. We would ask for a personal connection so that Mr. Brown can go back with his son.”
James Harrington, managing partner at Fieger Law who is representing Vance's family, said in September that the victim is filing a lawsuit.
“Vance remains on life support due to the injuries he sustained as a result of the officer's actions,” Harrington said the Detroit News.
“The way this situation escalated is unconscionable and now one man's life is at stake because of the irresponsible actions of the Detroit Police Department.
“We are working to obtain all evidence to get justice for Daryl Vance and will file a lawsuit against those responsible.”