Iraq veteran accused of attacking VFW members during his wedding reception

UPDATE Local Iraq vet charged after Andover VFW fracas

Iraq vet allegedly attacks three at bar downstairs from his wedding reception at North Andover VFW hall
07/16/2012 4:51 PM
By Matt Woolbright
Boston Globe Correspondent

LAWRENCE — A 32-year-old Iraq War veteran is facing charges after he allegedly attacked several people at the Veterans of Foreign Wars bar downstairs from his wedding reception.

Philip Brooks pleaded not guilty to numerous charges in Lawrence District Court today. After a dangerousness hearing, a judge ordered him held without bail until Wednesday. After that, if he posts $2,000 bail, he will be under house arrest.

Brooks was a medic deployed to Iraq for two tours of about a year, the first from 2004 to 2005 and the second from 2007 to 2008, a National Guard spokeswoman said.

Brooks was arrested hiding in the woods near the hotel where he was staying after he allegedly went into the downstairs bar at the VFW hall and attacked three people Sunday night. Brooks, according to Essex Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Gillespie, attacked a 79-year-old man sipping his beer at the bar and attacked a 62-year-old man and his wife.

Brooks claimed that someone in the bar had displayed a black handgun at him — a claim no one in the members-only bar backed up, Gillespie said. He was quoted by witnesses, however, as repeatedly shouting that older veterans do not appreciate Iraq veterans.
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