Brea, Calif. – On November 02, 2021, at approximately 7:34 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Carbon Canyon Rd. and Ruby St. for a major traffic collision. Officers discovered that prior to arrival, a vehicle had become disabled on the road, causing a traffic hazard. The disabled vehicle was struck by a Ram pickup truck. The force of the collision pushed the disabled vehicle into the driver, who was standing beside it on the road. The victim sustained major injuries and died.

During the initial investigation, Officers obtained a blood sample from the driver of the Ram pick-up truck, identified as Charles Brown, resident of Placentia, CA. A toxicology report detected both alcohol and cocaine in his system. Over the next several months, our Traffic Unit worked tirelessly on this investigation, resulting in the Orange County District Attorney’s office filing criminal charges against the suspect for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and several related felony DUI offenses. (Penal Code 191.5(b)).

On March 14, 2023, the Brea Police Department’s Traffic Division was notified by the District Attorney’s office that a warrant for the arrest of Charles Brown was issued. Yesterday, on March 15, 2023, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Charles Brown was arrested and taken into custody. Brown remains in custody and bail is set at $100,000.

The Brea Police Department extends its gratitude to all parties involved in the investigation, including the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

On behalf of the entire Brea Police Department, we send our deepest condolences to the friends and family of the victim.