ST. GEORGE — A Colorado man accused of shooting at several officers during an incident in the fall of 2021 appeared in a Beaver County courtroom Monday for sentencing on multiple felony charges, including one count of attempted murder.
The defendant, 44-year-old William Jason Brooks of Denver, Colorado, was in 5th District Court in Beaver City for sentencing on three second-degree felony charges, including one count each of attempted murder, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and theft.
The defendant was originally charged with 13 second-degree felony charges, including assault on a peace officer, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person and theft. He also faced four third-degree felony charges, including discharge of a firearm, failing to stop at command of police and unlawful acquisition of a financial card.
In addition, he was charged with two misdemeanor counts of possession of another’s identifying documents as well as a traffic infraction for speeding. The remaining charges were dismissed under the terms of the plea agreement.
District Judge Gary D. Scott presided over the hearing, Beaver County Prosecutor Von Christiansen represented the state and Richfield attorney Michael labrum of Richfield acted as Brooks’ defense attorney.
Pursuit at triple-digit speeds sets off large-scale search
The charges stem from a Sept. 13, 2021, pursuit on Interstate 15 after a UHP trooper tracked a vehicle heading north at 100 mph in and 80 mph zone near mile marker 117 shortly before 7 p.m. During the ensuing chase, speeds exceeded 120 mph and Brooks reportedly attempted to make a U-turn in the median. Eventually, two passengers — 45-year-old John Gow of Parker, Colorado, and 40-year-old Tammy Marie Emanuel of Aurora, Colorado — both got out and surrendered to police.
Brooks, however, fled on foot, setting in motion a large-scale operation and manhunt that would continue for several more hours as authorities shut down I-15 in both directions as a precaution.
Meanwhile, the Utah Department of Public Safety’s Aero Bureau sent two helicopters to assist in the search, and once the sun went down, officers continued their efforts in complete darkness. Using FLIR thermal cameras, the helicopter crews soon located the suspect hiding in some brush near the area where the shots were reportedly fired toward the K-9 officers who took cover to avoid being hit, while Brooks then shot at the air response. SWAT was deployed and Brooks surrendered shortly thereafter.
The officer subsequently noted in his report that “Brooks attempted to shoot 6 police officers. He is a wanted parole fugitive, and fled from law enforcement.”
The report states the suspect denied shooting at the officers, saying it “must have been someone else.”
Brooks was arrested and booked into custody at the Beaver County Jail on multiple charges, along with the two passengers that were arrested hours earlier.
Codefendants agree to turn state’s evidence
Gow and Emanuel, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drug possession during a hearing held in October of that year and they were sentenced to serve 21 days in the Beaver County Jail after the pair agreed to testify against the driver.
While Emmanuel declined to make a statement prior to sentencing, Gow said he had found himself in a situation and realized he made a mistake, for which he was sorry. He went on to explain he went to Las Vegas to pick up his friend, Brooks, and was returning to Utah when he was dragged into the incident, and “the next thing I know [Brooks] is shooting at cops,”
Both were released from custody shortly after the hearing and were placed on three years’ probation.
Possible federal involvement delays resolution in state case
Brooks remained in the custody of the Beaver County Jail and in July 2022, the case was bound over for trial following a preliminary hearing. From there, the U.S. Attorney’s Office became involved which set off a series of discussions to determine if the case would be picked up by federal prosecutors.
The government decided to wait until the state case was settled to determine whether the defendant would be indicted in federal court and on March 3, a pretrial conference was scheduled in the case, which is when Brooks pleaded guilty to the three felony charges and the case was set for a sentencing hearing in May.
During the hearing, the prosecutor said the defendant pleaded guilty to the three second-degree felonies under the terms that he would go to prison on the charges, while the state agreed to forego any argument for consecutive sentencing.
Brooks’ defense attorney said his client agreed with the offer submitted by the state that agreed to offer concurrent sentencing in exchange for his client’s guilty plea should the court accept the offer.
The judge then sentenced the defendant to serve 1-15 years in Utah State Prison on each charge – sentences the judge ordered to be run concurrently. Brooks, who has remained in custody since his arrest in 2021, would also get credit for the two years and nine months he has already served.
The judge closed by saying, “The defendant is remanded to the custody of the authorities to be transported to the Utah State Prison.”
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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