Turtle Creek man charged with robbing seven businesses in one year

A Turtle Creek man already accused of shooting a Monroeville police officer multiple times in January was arraigned in federal court Tuesday on charges of robbing seven businesses at gunpoint over the course of a year.

Jamal Brooks, 32, is named in an 18-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court on Tuesday. The charges include theft, brandishing a firearm and two counts of carjacking.

Brooks has been in the Allegheny County Jail since Jan. 5, when he was charged with the shooting of a Monroeville police officer sergeant who tried to arrest him on suspicion of robbing the Crumbl cookie store in the 4100 bock of William Penn Highway.

The officer was shot in the arm and buttocks. Police say Brooks shot at least 16 times.

He will be tried in that case on Jan. 8 in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.

The federal indictment lists charges dating back to Jan. 3, 2023, when investigators said Brooks robbed an Eat ‘n Park on Monroeville Boulevard and stole a 2019 Chevy Malibu.

He is accused of robbing the same Eat ‘n Park on June 11, 2023.

Then, on Oct. 31, 2023, Brooks robbed the Penn Station East Coast Subs location on Center Avenue, as well as Mercedes-Benz of Pittsburgh on Baum Boulevard, according to the indictment. At the car dealership, investigators said Brooks stole key fobs and a 2021 E450 coupe model.

The indictment alleges that Brooks, who has a long criminal history, robbed Chipotle on Freeport Road on Nov. 12 and stole a 2015 Audi Allroad station wagon the same day, then robbed an Eat ‘n Park on Manor Park Drive in Robinson the next day.

The Crumbl cookie heist is also included in the federal case.