A 29-year-old Milwaukee man, Timmy Lee Brooks, is in police custody, being held on a first degree intentional homicide charge for allegedly shooting and killing a Kenosha woman, Montreach Mitchell. The two were at one time romantically involved. He is also expected to be charged with felony bail jumping and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The woman was found dead from apparent gun-shot wounds in a Kenosha hotel yesterday, May 25, around mid-day.
Brooks is a violent career criminal felon. He has a long and violent arrest record in Wisconsin including robbery, theft, battery, possession with intent to deliver, disorderly conduct, fleeing and eluding an officer, fraud, and assault. He also has an arrest record in Mississippi with an arrest for burglary – break and enter a home.
What’s more concerning is the Brooks was out on felony bail at the time of the alleged murder. Not just for one criminal case, but for three.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Kenosha’s Judicial Court Commissioner, Loren Keating, is a former cop and former defense attorney. He presided over the initial hearings in all three of Brooks’ open criminal cases and will likely hear his case tomorrow at 1pm.
Police and prosecutors say that on August 1, 2021, Brooks damaged a car with a long wooden pole and bear-hugged the woman (he would later allegedly murder) against her will in the presence of the police. The woman cried “NO!” Brooks resisted arrest and fled with one officer being injured. He was charged with obstructing an officer as a repeater and disorderly conduct domestic abuse as a repeater. On August 2, Court Commissioner Loren Keating set Brooks’ bail at $1,000 cash. He was released and ordered to stay away from Mitchell. Brooks would later skip court on this case and have a warrant issued for his arrest. He turned himself in.
On February 8, 2022 police and prosecutors said that Brook ran a red light and caused a multi-car wreck with injuries at 30th ave and 52nd St. He fled the scene and threw his jacket in the garbage can at a nearby gas station seemingly to disguise himself. He was later arrested and charged with felony hint and run – injury as a repeater and felony bail-jumping. On February 9 court commissioner Loren Keating set Brooks’ bail, again at $1,000 cash and he was released.
On March 14, 2022 Mitchell called 9-1-1 to report that her ex-boyfriend, Brooks, was trying to break into her home. When police arrived, he fought with them and was arrested. On March 15, Brooks was back in court, being charged with obstructing an officer as a repeater, resisting an officer as a repeater, misdemeanor bail jumping and felony bail jumping, both as repeaters. Shockingly, Court Commissioner Loren Keating let Brooks go on a $1,500 cash bond. He again ordered Brooks to stay away from Mitchell.
According to police, Brooks didn’t leave her alone. Instead, he gunned her down at the Wyndham hotel. She was staying there because her house burned down. It is unclear if Brooks is involved in the fire.
The question that many of Kenosha residents are asking is this: Would this 30-year-old mother of three be alive today if the commissioner would have been tougher on this career violent criminal called Timmy Lee Brooks? We see the risks of letting violent offenders go free while awaiting trial. In Waukesha a similar circumstance happened when Darrell Brooks allegedly murdered several people while out on bond for a very serious crime.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Chief Judge Jason Rossell, reached by email, could not comment on these cases due to ethical rules, but we did ask him about bail reform and he told KCE:
“Considering Wisconsin Constitution Article 1 Section 8 (2) and Wisconsin Statute Section 969.01(4), the discussion of the use of cash bail to protect public safety would start with the Legislature and Governor. Currently, there are proposals before the Legislature and a joint resolution to amend the State Constitution to change these provisions and address the issue that you raised. “
Kenosha DA Mike Graveley, when asked if he would commit to a conversation with his prosecutors in his office about requesting higher bails in Kenosha, wished not to comment. He did confirm with KCE that Brooks will be in court tomorrow.
Brooks turned himself in today to the Milwaukee Police Department and was seen smiling during the arrest.
KCE will be in court tomorrow for his initial appearance. We will have more details when Brooks is formally charged.
9 Responses
Word is he is the one who burned down the lady’s house, too.
Another KCE scoop. Thank you for turning over the rocks to let us look underneath
I hear that!
Thank you for reporting
It seems like people with drug charges get higher bonds than monsters with violent criminal history. What a messed up system in Kenosha. Now my friend’s daughter is dead. Wow!
Truly hope if the defendant is found guilty, he rots in prison.
The irony of Graveley not wishing to comment and Keaton with his continual low bonds. Should any crimes happen to them or a member of their families you can surely bet the bonds would fit the crime. It’s a felony to threaten or harm a public official or civil servant. Maybe we should should work on removing that protection making them as vulnerable as the rest of the citizens. Then they’d give a shit about us. This of course would have to include the governor.
It bothers me that some of the most incompetent idiot public officials are afforded special privileges. As it stands now, why should they care it’s just another day at the office. They are heartless over paid asses including the governor.
Let’s bring back the discussion of “three strikes and yer out.” If that was in effect, there would be one less murder.