Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Brooks makes brief appearance in California courtroom

Judge delays next hearing until May 7 in I-15 chase, arrest

Brooks arrested in California

Ex-Nevada Assemblyman Steven Brooks, holds his arms up as he is arrested, Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Victorville, Calif. Brooks led police on a chase from Barstow, Calif., until his tires were spiked in Victorville, Calif. Brooks was arrested on charges including resisting arrest and throwing objects, just hours after he became the first lawmaker ever expelled from the Nevada Legislature. Launch slideshow »

Steven Brooks is scheduled to return to a California courtroom next month to face charges related to a chase on Interstate 15 that ended with a violent struggle with police the same day he was expelled from the Nevada Assembly.

Brooks appeared in person for a brief hearing Tuesday afternoon in San Bernardino County Superior Court. His court-appointed attorney requested a delay Tuesday to allow him additional time to review the evidence in the case.

Dressed in a blue jumpsuit and a T-shirt, Brooks heard Judge Miriam Morton agree to set a pre-preliminary hearing for 8:30 a.m. May 7 and a preliminary hearing for May 9.

A complaint filed April 2 by the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office charged Brooks with felony counts of evading an officer, resisting an executive officer, throwing substances at a vehicle and misdemeanor assault on a police animal.

The charges stemmed from an incident March 29 – the same day Brooks was expelled from the Nevada Assembly – after Barstow police said they responded to a call on Interstate 15 of an argument between Brooks and a tow truck driver over payment for services.

According to police reports, Brooks sped off on a flat tire, throwing objects out of his car as police gave chase. After using a spike strip to stop the car, just north of Victorville, Calif., police said Brooks tried to choke and beat a police dog deployed to help subdue him when he did not respond to officers’ commands. Police eventually said they had to use a Taser to take him into custody.

At the conclusion of Tuesday’s three-minute hearing, Brooks, with one hand shackled to his waist, waived and blew a kiss to family members in the courtroom audience before he was led back to jail by authorities.

If convicted, Brooks could face more than five years in prison. He is being detained in the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

The Nevada Assembly voted to oust Brooks after he was accused of making threats toward his colleagues, including Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick. Brooks has been arrested three times since January. Last week, a Clark County judge revoked a $4,000 bond posted for Brooks after his arrest when officers responded to a domestic abuse call at his home in the 600) block of Turtle River Avenue in North Las Vegas.

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