Waukesha Christmas parade: Probe launched into why suspect was freed from jail on ‘inappropriately low’ bail

Police say incident not being treated as act of terrorism

An investigation has been launched into how the suspect in the Waukesha parade tragedy had been released from jail on “inappropriately low” bail over an another incident.

As officials charged 39-year Darrell Brooks with five counts of “intentional homicide” over the incident, that left five people dead and injured around 40, it was revealed he had been released from jail 10 days earlier.

Reports said Mr Brooks Jr had been charged three times in less than two years with recklessly endangering the safety of others, most recently on November 5.

That was part of a domestic abuse incident for which he was also charged with resisting or obstructing an officer, and had been released on bail of just $1,000.

On Monday, as Joe Biden said he was praying for the community impacted by the “horrific act of violence”, officials from the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office said they were investigating the bail recommendations from previous crimes said to involve Mr Brooks.

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“The State’s bail recommendation in this case was inappropriately low in light of the nature of the recent charges and the pending charges against Mr Brooks,” said the office of Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm.

“The bail recommendation in this case is not consistent with the approach of the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office toward matters involving violent crime, nor was it consistent with the risk assessment of the defendant prior to setting of bail.”

It added: “This office is currently conducting an internal review of the decision to make the recent bail recommendation.”

On Monday, police said that Mr Brooks would be charged with five degrees of intentional homicide, over the incident in Waukesha, roughly 20 miles west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

They also said they did not consider the incident to be an act of terrorism, rather that the suspect had been involved in a domestic disturbance prior to being filmed crashing into the parade.

Police said four women aged 52 to 79 and an 81-year-old man were killed. Members of the “Dancing Grannies” club were among the victims, as was an employee of Citizens Bank, officers revealed.

“We have information that the suspect prior to the was involved in a domestic disturbance and the suspect left the scene just prior to our arrival at the scene,” said Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson.

“This was not a terrorist event.”