GUILTY GA - Antonio Santiago, 13 mos, Brunswick, 21 March 2013 - #3

[Elley Mae]

Brunswick block party to bring positivity

http://www.news4jax.com/news/Brunsw...vity/-/475880/19516762/-/1754pmz/-/index.html

I can't wait to see who shows up.

 

[Sonya610]

Just think about how and why this individual would be elected...and the reason good people cannot walk a baby in a stroller on the streets of that town become VERY understandable.

It also explains why some towns and cities become so "poverty stricken". The decent people, the people with jobs, the people that pay taxes, the businesses that provide jobs etc....get the heck out leaving only the thugs and the poor.

Most think poverty causes crime, but in fact the opposite is equally true, crime can cause entire towns and cities to fall into poverty. I am betting 40 years ago Brunswick was a nice safe place to live but things changed, same thing is happening to Macon, GA.

 

[Wishbone]

Just think about how and why this individual would be elected...and the reason good people cannot walk a baby in a stroller on the streets of that town become VERY understandable.

No wonder Sherry West wants to get out of that town ASAP, I would too.

 

[Hickory Born]

Brunswick block party to bring positivity

http://www.news4jax.com/news/Brunsw...vity/-/475880/19516762/-/1754pmz/-/index.html

I can't wait to see who shows up.

I have mixed thoughts about this.

Good: When large groups of people are together people talk a lot. Just maybe someone will tell an honest person some info and the honest person will pass along to law enforcement.

Bad: Will this be a safe environment? Will guns and gangs penetrate the block party? There was talk of rioting on some of those awful FB pages.

 

[Elley Mae]

http://www.news4jax.com/news/Brunsw...oting/-/475880/19514538/-/xs7nru/-/index.html

Brunswick city commissioner arrested in connection to fatal shooting

This isn't the first time Brooks has been in trouble with the law.

Then in February 2012 prosecutors added a gun charge against him.

Brooks is currently being held on $1,256 bond for the willful obstruction of an officer charge. Bond has not yet been set for the felony charge of influencing a witness.

 

[Sonya610]

Bad: Will this be a safe environment? Will guns and gangs penetrate the block party? There was talk of rioting on some of those awful FB pages.

The block party organizer is apparently praying that there won't be any drive-bys (see her comment at the top).

Honestly advertising a block party of that nature seems errrmmmm...I assume the neighbors will be providing free food and such, that is likely to bring in large crowds from outside the neighborhood. Advertising something like that in the newspaper "free food and drinks!" is sure to make things interesting. They would have been wise to keep it quite amongst the actual neighbors and let the news media talk about it AFTER.

 

[dizzychick]

I have mixed thoughts about this.

Good: When large groups of people are together people talk a lot. Just maybe someone will tell an honest person some info and the honest person will pass along to law enforcement.

Bad: Will this be a safe environment? Will guns and gangs penetrate the block party? There was talk of rioting on some of those awful FB pages.

I was raised in North Oak Cliff area of southern Dallas County, Texas. It was a lovely area with huge old trees historic homes, parks, close to downtown much more value for your dollar when buying a house, etc by 1970 it was going south and now I do not even recognize it for the bars on windows, trash blowing down the streets, intersections with once thriving stores now are abandoned or filled with unsavory types. Just a shame.

 

[tlcya]

as to Brooks

:thud:

as to the block party

I do not fear violence at the block party. Not right now with so much LE attention on this neighborhood and them still actively investigating this case.

I think the block party is a great idea, the way to prevent the fear from permeating this neighborhood is to get people to take it back. A block party will go a long way in getting people out of their houses and talking to one another, getting to know one another and feeling safe within their numbers.

 

[tlcya]

Just flabberghasted about this newest development. No wonder things have been escalating in Brunswick as far as violent crimes. You have Mr. Brooks, a guy in authority, behind the scenes making sure certain individuals do not have to fear consequences of their actions.

Is it any wonder that the criminal element in that town are so cocky? DE walked up and shot a baby full on in the face at 9:30 in the morning. That bold. Now I think I have a better understanding of why.

I never in a million years expected this turn of events.

The LE comments about investigating gang involvement when viewed along with this new information screams RICO at me.

 

[Hickory Born]

Commission Brooks apologizes.

(From article)
The statement, released by attorney Alan David Tucker says Brooks was tricked into believing the alibi provided by Elkins' mother and aunt.

http://jacksonville.com/news/georgi...wick-commissioner-still-jailed-bribery-charge

Since the mother's and aunt's alibi(s) were different, the above statement is difficult to understand. How can one be duped/tricked when each of the women were saying DE was with them and they were at 2 different locations? This man is trying to save his own skin!

 

[tlcya]

I gotta ask, because the name sounds familiar - is this the same dude who was titled the mayor pro term who spoke on camera at some sort of prayer vigil right after the shooting?

ETA I thought so. Here is Mayor Pro Tem James Brooks.

http://www.news4jax.com/Brunswick-m...ddler/-/475982/19439744/-/wh3kmx/-/index.html

no wonder the violence has gotten markedly worse in this area! I gotta know how long he has been in this role.

 

[tlcya]

video of Mayor Pro Tem, James Brooks, prior to his arrest for witness interference appealing for witnesses to come forward

http://www.news4jax.com/Brunswick-m...ddler/-/475982/19439744/-/wh3kmx/-/index.html

 

[tlcya]

Action News met with Commissioner Brooks earlier this week during an interview with family members of De'marquise Elkins, one of the teens accused in the murder of a Brunswick baby. Action News also captured video of Brooks walking with the Elkins family in front of the courthouse on Monday. Brooks told Action News he is related to De'marquise Elkins.
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content....cspx?rss=1931

 

[Hickory Born]

Brooks has been granted a $5000 bail, but has to turn himself in to the Sheriff of Camden County by 12pm on April 1, 2013.

WHY didn't law enforcement immediately transfer him to the other county?

The links below are photos of the Judge's order (2 pages) read all the restrictions they gave him. One states... He is barred from Brunswick police offices unless he is invited.

http://www.fox30jax.com/Photo.aspx?content_id=23a4408e-e21e-4158-9584-2bf2d92f36d6&i=2

http://www.fox30jax.com/Photo.aspx?content_id=23a4408e-e21e-4158-9584-2bf2d92f36d6&i=3

 

[tlcya]

Alex “A.J.” Robinson, the department’s recruiting officer from August 2010 to August 2011, testified that Brooks instructed him to send all unqualified applicants to see him.
“I told him first and foremost, I’d have to contact the chief,’’ Robinson said. “He said, ‘The chief works for me. I don’t work for her.’ ’’

He described Brooks as very powerful and said that Brooks once told him, “Just shut the hell up. Just send them to me,’’ when he said that some applicants’ criminal history made them ineligible to be police officers.

snip

Jackie Johnson told the court earlier Brooks wore a gun and badge of some sort when he showed up during police calls. Brooks’ wife testified in his bail hearing two weeks ago that he owned a gun, and Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents found one when they searched Brooks’ house after his arrest.

Officers complained about Brooks having the radio and about his interference when they responded to calls, especially one at a public housing complex where his granddaughter was lived, Johnson said.

The ultimate decision on hiring and firing lay with Harris, and all she and any commissioner could do was make recommendations, the former chief said.

GBI Special Agent Larry Kelly testified that he began investigating Brooks in April after Mayor Bryan Thompson and Police Chief Tobe Green told him of Knight’s contention he had paid Brooks $300 to “seal his record and get him a job with Brunswick.”

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/georgi...ner-still-jailed-bribery-charge#ixzz2OwUc4Ih0

I am not liking what I am reading here. Does anyone else wonder if Mr. Brooks was stacking the force with criminals loyal to him? And he had some sort of badge he would wear and show up at crime scenes??? To do what, interfere with witnesses? And he insisted he be issued a police radio, for what reason, so he could know when police calls were occurring?

I got a real bad feeling that this is gonna end up being huge.

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

I'm not so sure a 'block party' is a naturally occurring thing in a community that is still reeling from grief. I agree with you, tlcya, that this could be of benefit to getting people talking...and wonder, too, if this might be another tactic encouraged by LE to aid in that. The 'free food and drinks' would be put in the ad to attract as many people as possible.

I hope it works.

 

[Hickory Born]

Alex “A.J.” Robinson, the department’s recruiting officer from August 2010 to August 2011, testified that Brooks instructed him to send all unqualified applicants to see him.
“I told him first and foremost, I’d have to contact the chief,’’ Robinson said. “He said, ‘The chief works for me. I don’t work for her.’ ’’

He described Brooks as very powerful and said that Brooks once told him, “Just shut the hell up. Just send them to me,’’ when he said that some applicants’ criminal history made them ineligible to be police officers.

snip

Jackie Johnson told the court earlier Brooks wore a gun and badge of some sort when he showed up during police calls. Brooks’ wife testified in his bail hearing two weeks ago that he owned a gun, and Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents found one when they searched Brooks’ house after his arrest.

Officers complained about Brooks having the radio and about his interference when they responded to calls, especially one at a public housing complex where his granddaughter was lived, Johnson said.

The ultimate decision on hiring and firing lay with Harris, and all she and any commissioner could do was make recommendations, the former chief said.

GBI Special Agent Larry Kelly testified that he began investigating Brooks in April after Mayor Bryan Thompson and Police Chief Tobe Green told him of Knight’s contention he had paid Brooks $300 to “seal his record and get him a job with Brunswick.”

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/georgi...ner-still-jailed-bribery-charge#ixzz2OwUc4Ih0

I am not liking what I am reading here. Does anyone else wonder if Mr. Brooks was stacking the force with criminals loyal to him? And he had some sort of badge he would wear and show up at crime scenes??? To do what, interfere with witnesses? And he insisted he be issued a police radio, for what reason, so he could know when police calls were concurring?

I got a real bad feeling that this is gonna end up being huge.

I do hope law enforcement re-visits the Tom Sublett murder case. Tom Sublett was a Glynn County "Commissioner" who died from a gunshot wound in Dec. 2012. Circumstances were VERY strange!

 

[Elley Mae]

http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/...ioner-james-h-brooks-denied-bail-bribery-case

Posted: January 31, 2012 - 1:07am | Updated: January 31, 2012 - 5:28am

Brunswick City Commissioner James H. Brooks will remain in the Camden County jail at least 11 more days after a magistrate denied bail on his bribery charge Monday.

Lewis issued her ruling after a half-hour hearing in which Brooks sat shackled before her in striped jail clothing. Near the end of the hearing, District Attorney Jackie Johnson said there is more to come than the single bribery charge in which Brooks is accused to taking $300 to have a drug conviction removed from the record of a man who wants to be a police officer.

Johnson described the investigation as a probe into an “ongoing criminal enterprise that’s been going on for a long time.’’

 

[tlcya]

I am not familiar with that case Hickory, but I would think a lot of things in the area might be getting a second look in light of all of this business.

 

[tlcya]

so I guess my question is if all these shenanigans have been going on with commissioner Brooks for so long, why is he still a commissioner?