Darrell Brooks, the suspect in a Christmas parade crash in suburban Milwaukee that killed six people, was facing prior charges and was out on a $1,000 bail
The White House is reaffirming President Joe Biden's call to end cash bail following revelations that Waukesha suspect Darrell Brooks was out on $1,000 bail at the time he allegedly plowed through revelers at a Christmas parade.
Brooks is now being held after a judge set bail at $5 million following the Sunday incident, where he is accused of driving an SUV through the parade, resulting in six dead and dozens injured.
Local authorities are probing how Brooks was out on the much lower amount at the time of the incident, despite a history of flight and charges earlier this month that he allegedly tried to run over his ex-girlfriend at a gas station. The woman is also the mother of his child. He was charged Nov. 2 and posted $1,000 bail November 11th.
The Milwaukee District Attorney's Office is investigating, and calls the amount 'inappropriate.'
Biden issued a sweeping statement on his website during the presidential campaign on ending cash bail.
'Cash bail is the modern-day debtors' prison. The cash bail system incarcerates people who are presumed innocent. And, it disproportionately harms low-income individuals. Biden will lead a national effort to end cash bail and reform our pretrial system by putting in place, instead, a system that is fair and does not inject further discrimination or bias into the process,' his website said.
A White House official defended the policy on Wednesday.
According to a White House official, 'Ending cash bail will not automatically put people charged with crimes on the streets. It just
