A fistfight that took place between two employees at a local restaurant between 4 and 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2024, landed a 29-year-old man in jail on battery charges and a 16-year-old juvenile with possible broken bones.
According to a report from the Douglas Police Department, two employees at the restaurant, Darien Brooks, 29, and a 16-year-old juvenile, had gotten into an argument the day before. Brooks stated that the juvenile told another employee “that if he tried him again he was going to pop him.”
When Brooks came back to work on Saturday, he stated that he asked other employees to see if the juvenile had a gun before Brooks entered the building. The report states that no one checked the juvenile for a gun so Brooks “went up to [him] and patted him down.” According to the report, Brooks felt a handgun in one of the juvenile’s pockets. Brooks then reached in and pulled out the gun. Then, the report says, the juvenile punched Brooks in the face, knocking out a tooth. Brooks then fought back, the report says.
The restaurant had video of the incident. DPD officers reviewed the video and the reporting officer stated the following based on the video:
“I . . . saw Darien walk up behind [the juvenile] and patted him down. Darien walked away and came back. [A witness] and another coworker tried to separate Darien and [the juvenile]. [The witnesses] walked out after being pushed.
“I saw Darien back [the juvenile] up into the wall. After words were exchanged Darien head butted [the juvenile]. After more words were exchanged, [the juvenile] took the firearm out of his pocket and sat it on the table. Darien picked up the firearm and moved it to the counter. Darien then turned around and punched [the juvenile] in the face several times. [The juvenile] attempted to go around Darien but Darien grabbed him. Darien then put [him] in a choke hold and slammed him to the ground. Darien punched [him] again while he was on the ground. Darien and [the juvenile] tussled before being broken up by coworkers.”
Officers located the juvenile on North Grady Avenue and called EMS to treat his injuries, which included a suspected broken nose and broken ribs. They found Brooks at an apartment on East Baker Highway and placed him under arrest. Brooks was charged with battery and 1st degree cruelty to children. He was transported to the Coffee County Jail where he remains.
The juvenile was charged with possession of a pistol or revolver by a minor. The weapon, which officers recovered, was a Raven .25.