• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Violent woman who received multiple diversions from DA George Gascon accused of stabbing man to death

Jade Simone Brookfield is charged with murder after previously avoiding incarceration due to several diversions for mental health treatment

Jade Simone Brookfield

Jade Simone Brookfield (Image via FOX 11 Los Angeles)

May 4, 2023
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

LOS ANGELES – A career criminal with a violent history who remained free to roam the streets and avoid incarceration since she was assigned mental health treatment instead of prison time is now accused of stabbing a Los Angeles man to death.

Jade Simone Brookfield, 23, was taken into custody in April for the homicide. She was charged with murder after reportedly stabbing Dennis Banner, 40, to death during an argument in the street, FOX 11 Los Angeles reported.

Brookfield had a lengthy criminal history, which includes assault, assault with a deadly weapon (ADW) and multiple violent felonies involving knives. However, sources told FOX News that she had repeatedly avoided incarceration and was offered mental health diversion after each criminal offense.

Now the woman remains in custody and is facing murder charges after the father of two young girls lost his life, thus terminating Brookfield’s diversion.

The ongoing hue and cry in Los Angeles County blames District Attorney George Gascon for yet another avoidable tragedy as his soft-on-crime approach seeks diversion and other minimal remedies whenever possible.

Dennis Banner was fatally stabbed last month. The accused killer, Jade Simone Brookfield, had a history of committing violent felonies with knives but was never incarcerated, law enforcement sources said. (Image via FOX 11 Los Angeles)

Sources within the criminal justice system who were not authorized to speak publicly about the case, shared details and a timeline of Brookfield’s arrest record and violent criminal history.

Brookfield’s first encounter with LAPD occurred in the spring of 2020, during Gascón’s first year in office. She was arrested for attempted murder after she stabbed a woman in the chest with a knife, puncturing the victim’s lung, FOX 11 Los Angeles reported.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prosecution of the crime was delayed into 2021. By then, the court reduced Brookfield’s charges to assault with a deadly weapon — still a felony offense that counts as one “strike” under California’s Three Strikes law. However, she was granted mental health diversion in lieu of jail time.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bill Melugin (@bmelugin33)

Although Brookfield initially failed to participate and was initially terminated from the diversion program, she was later permitted to re-enlist in the rehabilitation effort and given another chance, according to a source.

Nevertheless, Brookfield’s violent behavior continued, and in September 2021 she was arrested for battery of a peace officer. Yet once again, she was given a mental health diversion and Gascón’s office dismissed the case.

In December 2021, Brookfield was arrested for reportedly making criminal threats after she assaulted a man, pulled out two knives and threatened to kill him. Despite her series of violent crimes, Gascon’s office rejected the case, claiming it lacked evidence.

George Gascon
George Gascon (Wikipedia Commons)

Despite remaining in the mental health diversion program, Brookfield was arrested in March of this year for a fourth time regarding another felony assault involving a knife. She reportedly swung the bladed weapon several times at a bus driver who missed her exit, according to law enforcement sources.

Without explanation, Brookfield was ordered released from custody with an ankle monitor, despite her criminal history and the latest ADW being a blatant violation of her diversion program. The consequences of that decision have now proven fatal.

Merely weeks following her release for another ADW arrest, Brookfield was taken into custody and charged with Banner’s stabbing death.

The union representing deputy district attorneys in Los Angeles County place blame with Gascon.

“The time to build a functional mental health system was two and half years ago. Instead of doing so, George Gascon offered Tweets, press conferences, and his thoughts and prayers. That is not enough. It is irresponsible. And it’s dangerous,” said Eric Siddall, vice president of the Los Angeles Association of Deputy District Attorneys. “Releasing people back onto the streets with no supervision is not the answer. LA County needs to build out a system that includes lockdown mental health facilities to treat those with serious mental health concerns.”

Meanwhile, Gascon’s office released the following statement, which appears tone-deaf in light of the homicide.

“We appreciate the public concern when someone is participating in a mental health program and allegedly commits a serious crime. Our prosecutors make the best decisions they can in light of all the available information. Our heart goes out to all the victims in this matter, and we stand ready to support them on their journey to healing.”

Bill Melugin, a field reporter with FOX News, offered a succinct comment in his Instagram post, saying, “It’s hard to have a journey when you’re murdered.”


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Continue Reading
Tags: CaliforniaDennis BannerEric SiddallGeorge GasconJade Simone Brookfieldlos angelesLos Angeles County District Attorney's Office
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

David Brinson

Four-time convicted murderer now accused of strangling wife to death during conjugal prison visit

March 21, 2025

Los Angeles mayor slashed fire budget last year

January 9, 2025
Jim McDonnell

Former sheriff becomes new LAPD chief

October 6, 2024
melons

Meth in the melons

August 23, 2024
Ezequiel Romo

Notorious gang leader stabbed to death in prison

July 23, 2024
Jose Carmen Cardona

Man previously deported multiple times charged with triple homicide

July 15, 2024
Load More

Latest Articles

I’m Not Broken, I’m Dangerous

July 4, 2025

The Problem with Promotions

June 20, 2025
Melissa Hortman

Former Minnesota House Speaker Assassinated in Attack on Multiple Lawmakers

June 14, 2025

Sheriff: If You Throw a Brick At Our Deputy, ‘We Will Kill You, Graveyard Dead’

June 13, 2025

Former USAID Officer and Executives Plead Guilty in $550 Million Bribery Scheme

June 13, 2025

A Case Study in Federal Corruption and Media Silence

June 12, 2025
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

Protect Your Privacy

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

POPULAR GEAR

Tactical Pants

Tactical Boots

 

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2024 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2024 LawOfficer.com