Waukesha Christmas parade trial continues into third week with witness testimony about suspect's arrest

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Waukesha Christmas parade trial continues for a third week.

Witnesses testified on Monday about the moments leading up to the suspect's arrest.

The defendant, Darrell Brooks, is facing 76 charges, including six counts of first-degree intentional homicide.

Multiple witnesses said a man, they all identified as Darrell Brooks, stopped them after the parade and asked to use their phones to call an Uber. 

"His next words were, 'I'm not going to hurt you. I just need to use your phone,' and that's when I gave him my phone," Erin Cordes said.

Those who lent the defendant their phones, said he never called an Uber. He called his mother.

A Lyft driver testified to accepting a ride for a passenger named Dawn. He received a message that the ride was for someone else with the description of a light skinned Black man with dreadlocks. 

"It was like just a really weird call, because no one ever showed up," Anthony Winters said. 

Daniel Rider, a Waukesha resident, said his Ring doorbell went off around 5 p.m. on Nov. 21, 2021.

"There was a gentleman at my front porch knocking on the door saying that they're homeless, they're cold and they need to use my phone so that they can tell their Uber where to pick them up," Rider said.

Rider testified he opened his home to the man.

"I let him sit on the couch right by the window out front. I said you can look out here waiting for your Uber, and he's on the phone for most of the time after that," Rider said.

Rider said he lent the man a coat and his phone, which the defendant used to call his mother.

Rider said he also made Brooks a sandwich. 

"There was many times he was thanking me, and so, he was grateful, and he even said thank you so much for showing me love, man," Rider said.

Rider said he became suspicious when he noticed police patrolling his street. He told the man he needed to wait outside for his ride.

Minutes later, Rider's Ring doorbell camera captured the moment police found the Waukesha Christmas parade suspect.

Big Bend Police Officer Rebecca Carpenter's body camera also captured the arrest.

The suspect in the video identifies himself as Darrell Brooks.

Carpenter identified the suspect as the defendant in the courtroom. 

The officer said cards with Brooks' name and a Ford ignition key were found in the suspect's pockets.

Brooks continues to object to his name in the courtroom.

Judge Jennifer Dorow excused a juror who called in sick on Monday.

The state read a pre-trial plea offer on the record after Brooks claimed to have never received one.

The state is now expecting to rest its case on Wednesday. 

Witness testimony continues on Tuesday.