Case Dismissed Against Detroit Officer Charged in Fatal Incident with 71-Year-Old

A judge dismissed the case against a former Detroit police officer who was charged with manslaughter after striking a 71-year-old man.

In a recent development, Judge Kenneth King of the 36th District Court has dismissed the case during the preliminary examination. The decision was made based on the lack of sufficient evidence to proceed to the trial court, as stated in a news release from the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

In a shocking incident on September 1, 2023, Juwan Marquise-Alexander Brown allegedly assaulted a 71-year-old Detroit resident named Daryl Vance, striking him in the face. Vance fell to the ground and struck his head on the pavement. On that day, he was admitted to the hospital, but unfortunately, his condition deteriorated over the course of 20 days, leading to his passing on September 21. An incident occurred in front of a bowling alley located in the 4100 block of Woodward Avenue at approximately 6:50 p.m.

According to the Wayne County Medical Examiner, Vance’s cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to his head resulting from a punch.

Brown was charged with manslaughter, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 15 years, in relation to the deadly assault.

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“The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office is expressing its disagreement with the Court’s decision and plans to appeal the dismissal of the charges,” stated Assistant Prosecutor Maria Miller in a press release.

In a surprising turn of events, Brown has been dismissed from the Detroit Police Department following the incident. Despite the charges being dismissed, his termination remains in effect.

According to the DPD, the decision to terminate former Officer Brown was influenced by multiple factors and is not dependent on the outcome of any criminal charges. “Every disciplinary case undergoes a thorough evaluation to determine if it complies with the Department’s rules and regulations. It is important to note that these evaluations are conducted independently from the judicial system.” The appeal of Brown’s termination is currently underway.