Charges Dropped Against Ex-Detroit Officer In Elderly Man's Death

DETROIT — A judge dismissed charges Thursday against a former Detroit officer who prosecutors said punched an elderly man who later died, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

Juwan Marquise-Alexander Brown, 29, was charged with manslaughter after prosecutors said he punched 71-year-old Daryl Vance in the face during a confrontation, causing him to fall to the ground and hit his head. Vance died in a hospital 20 days later, prosecutors said.

Wayne County Judge Kenneth King said there was not enough evidence to proceed to the trial court during Thursday's preliminary hearing. Prosecutors are expected to appeal the court's decision.

Police said officers, including Brown, responded to a Midtown business around 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 1 for a disturbance caused by a man in his 70s, whom police believe was intoxicated.

When Brown and other officers arrived at the business, they asked Vance to leave the area, but he refused and a "verbal confrontation" between Brown and Vance escalated, police said.

Brown then punched Vance in the "in the area of the jaw," which caused him to fall and hit his head on the ground, police said.

Officials took Vance to a nearby hospital, where he died on Sept. 1, police said. The Wayne County Medical Examiner determined that Vance died of blunt force trauma to the head from the punch.

The Detroit Police Department fired Brown after the incident. His termination still stands even though charges against him were dismissed. Brown appealed his termination, that process is still ongoing.