A Detroit police officer has been apprehended and charged with manslaughter following an incident involving a 71-year-old man at a local bowling alley earlier this year.
Officer Juwan Marquise Alexander Brown, 29, was on duty on the evening of September 1 when he was dispatched to the Garden Bowl, a bowling alley situated on Woodward Ave. in Midtown, a bustling arts and entertainment district in Detroit. The call was made to report a "disorderly" elderly man, later identified as Daryl Vance, who was refusing to vacate the premises. There were additional concerns that Vance was potentially armed.
Upon Brown's arrival at the scene, he successfully persuaded Vance to exit the bowling alley. However, an argument ensued between the two, which rapidly escalated, according to reports.
Outside the bowling alley, Brown is alleged to have struck Vance in the face, causing him to fall to the ground. Vance was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries three weeks later on September 21. The Wayne County medical examiner concluded that Vance's death was a result of blunt force trauma inflicted by the punch to his face.
It remains unclear whether Vance was in possession of a weapon on the night of the incident or if he held a permit for concealed carry.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced on Tuesday morning that Brown had been charged with manslaughter in relation to Vance's death. "Police officers frequently deal with citizens who are disorderly and verbally unpleasant," Worthy stated. "But the evidence in this case shows that the officer allegedly was the aggressor, and his actions went criminally beyond what was necessary in this situation. This behavior cannot be tolerated from our law enforcement."
Following the charges, the Detroit Police Department promptly terminated Brown's employment. Brown has since appealed his termination.
"Mr. Brown has been terminated from the Detroit Police Department as a result of his actions on Sept. 1, 2023," a statement issued by the DPD on Tuesday night read. "However, Mr. Brown is exercising his contractual right to appeal the termination decision. During the pendency of an appeal, if sought, Mr. Brown will remain off DPD payroll and will not possess any law enforcement authority."
The DPD also expressed gratitude to the Wayne County Prosecutors Office for their work on the case and pledged full cooperation with Prosecutor Worthys efforts toward securing a conviction for the charged offenses.
Brown is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday morning. It is yet to be determined whether he has secured legal representation. If found guilty, he could face a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
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