Detroit police officer charged with manslaughter in fatal assault of 71-year-old

A Detroit police officer has been charged with manslaughter in connection to the fatal assault of a 71-year-old man outside a Detroit bowling alley in September.

Officer Juwan Marquise-Alexander Brown, 29, reportedly got into a verbal confrontation with Daryl Vance, of Detroit, after responding to a dispatch call about Vance becoming disorderly at the bowling alley in the 4100 block of Woodward Avenue on Sept. 1, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. The verbal argument escalated and Brown allegedly punched Vance in the face, causing him to fall to the ground and hit his head on the pavement. Medics arrived on the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment, where he remained for three weeks until he was pronounced dead on Sept. 21.

The Wayne County Medical Examiner determined that Vance’s death was caused by blunt force trauma to his head from the punch. As a result, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office issued manslaughter charges against Brown, a 15-year felony.

“Police officers frequently deal with citizens who are disorderly and verbally unpleasant. 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,” said Prosecutor Kym Worthy in a news release. “This behavior cannot be tolerated from our law enforcement.”

Brown was arraigned Wednesday in 36th District Court by Magistrate William Burton, receiving a $100,000 personal bond. His probable cause conference was set for Jan. 3 and his preliminary examination will be held Jan. 10.