Detroit police officer Juwan Marquise-Alexander Brown, 29, faces manslaughter charges for allegedly punching a 71-year-old man, Daryl Vance, who later died.
Detroit police officer Juwan Marquise-Alexander Brown, 29, faces manslaughter charges for allegedly punching a 71-year-old man, Daryl Vance, during an incident on September 1. Vance, according to prosecutors, fell and hit his head, dying from his injuries weeks later.
During his arraignment Wednesday, Brown pleaded not guilty, with the magistrate entering the plea on his behalf. The charges stem from an incident at a Detroit bowling alley where Brown had been dispatched following a call about Vance being “disorderly,” according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutors say a “verbal confrontation” between Brown and Vance escalated, leading the officer to punch Vance in the face. The man fell and hit his head on the pavement. Emergency responders transported Vance to a local hospital, where he died September 21. The Wayne County Medical Examiner attributed his death to blunt force trauma to the head from the punch.
“Police officers frequently deal with citizens who are disorderly and verbally unpleasant,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. “However, 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 by our law enforcement.”
Brown, who pleaded not guilty, is facing a manslaughter charge that carries a potential 15-year sentence if convicted. The Detroit Police Department terminated Brown “as a result of his actions.” Though exercising his contractual right to appeal the decision, Brown will remain off the department’s payroll during the appeal process.
Brown’s attorney, Matthew Forrest, sought a personal bond during the arraignment, highlighting the defendant’s lack of criminal history, seven years of employment as a Detroit police officer, strong ties to the Detroit community, and having custody of his 7-year-old son.
Source: Black Enterprise
