A 29-year-old Los Angeles man is being held on $100,000 bail after court documents describe a chaotic scene at Portland's Pioneer Place mall, where he allegedly pulled a 10-inch knife from his bag, chased a security guard through the building, and then stole comic books. Ennis Donja Brooks was booked into the Multnomah County jail last Thursday at 8:33 p.m., and he now faces a first-degree robbery charge along with several other counts tied to the incident.
According to court documents cited by KATU, the confrontation began when a mall security guard approached Brooks over an open alcohol container and apparent intoxication. Brooks allegedly pulled a large knife out of his bag and charged at the guard, prompting police to respond to reports of a man throwing furniture and threatening security with a weapon.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed Brooks chasing the security guard with the knife, according to the same court documents. Investigators say Brooks then entered Floating World Comics while still holding the blade, and that he stole comic books from the shop before leaving. A Floating World Comics employee said Brooks asked, “What now?” in the store. Police later found the stolen comic books in his backpack, along with a 10-inch blade, per the outlet's account of the court filings.
Arrest at Southwest 3rd and Harvey Milk Street
Officers arrested Brooks last Thursday at the intersection of Southwest 3rd and Harvey Milk Street, court documents state. When confronted by police, Brooks reportedly denied involvement and at one point said it was a clone, according to the documents referenced in the reporting.
Brooks told police he lived in Los Angeles and had been traveling to Wyoming but became stranded in Portland, the court documents state. A booking record from recentlybooked.com confirms the September 24 booking time and lists the charges against him: first-degree robbery, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of menacing, second-degree disorderly conduct and second-degree assault. That record notes explicitly that an arrest does not imply guilt and that Brooks, like anyone charged, is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Court Appearance and Prior Record
Brooks appeared in court last Friday, September 25, where he was arraigned on first-degree robbery, two counts of menacing, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, and second-degree disorderly conduct, according to the court documents. He remains held on $100,000 bail and is due back in court on October 5.
Court documents also reportedly note that Brooks has a felony conviction for assault with a deadly weapon in California, as well as a felony conviction for vandalism in that state. Those prior convictions were cited in the same court records described in the reporting on his current case.
The case remains pending, with Brooks's next court date set for October 5 at Multnomah County. As with any pending criminal case, the charges against him reflect accusations only, and the outcome will be determined in court.
