Darrell Brooks' outburst leads to him being removed from courtroom during sentencing hearing

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: I'm not even here to say that some of those things can't co-exist, and you might not have some of your own mental health issues, whether it be bipolar, childhood trauma, or things of that nature. But the bottom line is none of that caused you to do what you did on November 21 of 2021. I want to next turn to the trial in this case. I think it's important that the sentence here today focuses on your conduct on November 21 of 2021 and the moments leading up to that tragic and fateful decision of yours to drive through the Waukesha Christmas Parade, and, of course, the moments after. I, of course, through my sentencing remarks and ultimately what I do here today, I can't answer all of the questions. I can't address all of the issues, including the why, perhaps the one question that will remain unanswered. Why? Why did you barrel down White Rock Avenue? Why did you not stop? Why did you keep going? Many of us in this courtroom sat through the entire trial. And what we learned is that very early on in the afternoon of November 21, starting at around 1 p.m., the police got ready for the parade. The staging area was set up, and that was all along White Rock Avenue. signs were put in place, ultimately, barricades were put up at a number of locations on Main Street and surrounding that. We know because we heard from Sergeant Warner about what he had done, and he had, right before the start of the parade, had driven down the parade route. He had, it was on his shoulders, his responsibility to make sure everything was safe and in order. What's important about that staging area, sir, is we know that that is where the altercation with Erica Patterson really came to a head. We all watched that video, multiple videos, and we know that even before that, you appeared angry and upset. Two individuals testified about you being at that mobile gas station, how you turned the wrong way down a one-way street, waved your hands in the air, rolled down your window, either exchanged gestures or words with one of the drivers, perhaps 30 minutes or so before the start of the parade, maybe an hour or so before you drove down the parade route. But what's important is the signage, even you, at one point, I believe when you were talking with Detective Carpenter, noted, it was my words, my assessment, it was clear something was going on. I think what you said was a lot of shit was blocked off. You'd driven past those signs on the staging area. The fact remains, they were there, sir, and the fact remains is, you told Detective Carpenter that. The other, we then heard from the witnesses related to Ms. Patterson, we heard from Corey Runkle, we heard from Erica Patterson herself. My impression, based upon Erica Patterson's testimony, who, by the way, she showed grace and dignity facing you, the man who clearly has no regard for her as a mother of one of your children, as someone you had a domestic partnership with and a relationship with at one point. We know, and I would say this goes to your character, what was shown through that altercation and going up the hill, following her, slapping her. You know, the rules don't matter to you, not the rules of the road, not the rules established by court orders, not the rules even of decorum and decency. And I'll get to this more fully when I talk about your character, and I know you went hard at Attorney Opper for her bringing these things up, but those are legitimate, lawful, sentencing considerations, and when I get to that point, I'll tell you the case law that supports that, your character, your, even your pending cases. [00:05:38] Speaker 2: I don't need no case law. [00:05:43] Speaker 1: We know at the time of all of this, right, you were out on bond for two felony cases, one involving a handgun, one involving the same vehicle and Erica Patterson, and one involving ultimately intimidation of Ms. Patterson. We know that you, that on November 20th, and she was very contrite about this. She told you where she was, she invited you out there, and that you had contact with her on the 20th. There was some physical. Mr. Brooks, this is my time. You need to not interrupt. [00:06:20] Speaker 2: That's the reason why the charge was dropped. Mr. Brooks, you need to stop. The state said, specifically, wrote you, your honor, and said that they know it was no incident that day. Mr. Brooks, do not interrupt me or you will be removed to the other courtroom. And now you want to sit up here. Stop. And try to, and try to add something in that you know for a fact never even happened. You want to sit up here and talk about who has grace and all this. You're talking about someone with five kids that don't have custody. [00:06:51] Speaker 1: You need to stop right now or you will be removed. Remove me then. All right. He will be removed. He cannot simply stay quiet when this court talks. [00:07:00] Speaker 2: Anyway, I don't consent to this just like I told you. I don't know the, uh, I don't, I don't even understand the, the true nature and cause.