A 39-year-old man punched players during a scuffle at a Centennial High School basketball game and then brandished a gun at students outside the gymnasium, Corona police said, and was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 2.
Thaddis Lamont Brooks IV was apprehended at his Perris home on suspicion of criminal threats, brandishing a deadly weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm on school grounds and child abuse.
He also faces a charge of animal cruelty after 40 dogs were found on his property, Corona police said.
Brooks was in the Robert Presley Detention Center in lieu of $350,000 bail.
He has several felony convictions in San Bernardino County, according to Superior Court records.
In 2006, he pleaded guilty to battery causing serious bodily injury. In 2002 and 2012, he pleaded guilty to a drug-possession charge. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to making criminal threats.
In 2016, a felony charge of illegal possession of ammunition was reduced to a misdemeanor, and Brooks pleaded guilty.
Here is the video from the ugly fight that took place at Corona Centennial in their girls basketball game against Corona Santiago. Video is from NFHS Network. Game was not resumed. @latsondheimer @CalHiSports @Inland_Sports @CallMeEPJ @derryl_golfer pic.twitter.com/cpPF72b7eJ
— James Escarcega
(@James_Escarcega) January 26, 2023
Brooks, the stepfather of a Centennial High player, has been banned from all facilities in the Corona-Norco Unified School District as a result of the Jan. 24 fight during the girls basketball game between visiting Santiago and Centennial, district spokeswoman Brittany Foust said on Friday, Feb. 3.
A video from the NFHS Network shows the altercation at Centennial started after a player from each team was tangled up after a foul was called.
A couple of bumps and shoves were exchanged by players, and a handful of spectators came onto the court. At some point, out of camera view, a spectator who police identified as Brooks punched several players, authorities said.
One spectator, apparently Brooks, can be seen getting forcibly removed from the scrum and nearly wrestled to the ground by another fan. Brooks would eventually start to make his way to the parking lot, police said.
“As the suspect left the gymnasium, witnesses heard him mention he was getting a gun,” police said in a news release. “The suspect walked to the parking lot and retrieved a handgun from his vehicle.
“While in the parking lot, the suspect pointed the handgun at several students and threatened to shoot them,” the news release said. “The suspect fled the area just before officers arrived at the school.”
Brooks was arrested when a search warrant was served at his Chamberlin Creek Way home. Riverside County Animal Services was called and discovered “there were animal-cruelty factors present due to the conditions of the residence,” the release said.
The school district declared the game a “no contest” — the game will not resumed and no winner will be declared.
Prompted by the melee, the district announced additional safety measures for indoor events, including an increased law enforcement and staff presence, metal detectors, a no-reentry policy and bags will be subject to search.
This is not the first time Brooks has apparently been in trouble as a result of his actions at a basketball game.
In 2017, a man with the same first and last names and the right age was taken into custody on suspicion of battery after a play on the court lead to a fight among adults during a youth game at the Redlands Community Center. There is no indication that Brooks was ever prosecuted.