Hunter
08/26/22
Cedar Rapids Police have arrested a man wanted after allegedly attempting to murder his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend earlier this year.
The Gazette reports that 38-year-old Bernick Brown allegedly used a baseball bat in the February 12th attack, leaving the victim, Branly Nkosi, with multiple skull fractures, a brain bleed, and other serious life-threatening injuries.
Brown was also wanted on a 2020 assault of his girlfriend and fleeing from police at 60 miles per hour in a 25 miles per hour zone.
Brown was identified by a Cedar Rapids patrol officer Wednesday evening shortly after 5:00p.m. The officer began tracking him and called for backup. Brown attempted to hide in a home in the 1400 Block of Bever Avenue. As officers attempted to contact the man, he escaped on foot from the other side of the house. A foot chase followed and Canine Officers were employed to track and detain Brown.
He was also allegedly in possession of about 20 pounds of individually wrapped cocaine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia upon his arrest.
One Cedar Rapids Police Officer was slightly injured during the incident; Brown was given medical treatment at a local hospital and transferred to the Linn County Correctional Facility.
Brown faces multiple charges. They include Attempted Murder, Going Armed with Intent, and Willful Injury causing Bodily Injury for the February incident; Domestic Assault causing Injury and Eluding for the December 2020 incident; and a Controlled Substance Violation, Failure to Affix Drug Stamp, 2nd offense Marijuana Possession, two counts of Interference with Official Acts causing Bodily Injury, simple Interference with Official Acts, Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia during Wednesday’s arrest.
If convicted on all charges, Brown faces a prison sentence of over 67 years.