Columbia police arrest man accused of threatening to kill woman and 7-year-old boy

Columbia police arrested William Brooks after officers were dispatched to a domestic assault in the 3700 block of Valencia Drive.

Police said the investigation revealed that Brooks woke up a female victim because he was angry and started breaking things. Brooks proceeded to threaten to kill the victim as he held two knives in his hands and choked her to the point where she could not breathe, officers said.

Brooks was also accused of threatening to kill a 7-year-old boy by walking toward him with a piece of glass in his hand, officers said.

Police said Brooks also took the female victim’s phone, pushed her while she had a 9-month old baby and unplugged the garage door opener so she could not drive away.

The victim told officers that she was scared for herself and her children, so she drove through the closed garage door to escape from Brooks.

Brooks faces possible charges of armed criminal action, domestic assault and endangering the welfare of a child.