Cedar Rapids man accused of attempting to kill ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend with baseball bat

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man was arrested Wednesday on a warrant for an attempted murder charge after he led police on a foot chase, according to a Cedar Rapids Police Department news release.

Bernick Karsten Brown, 38, is accused of attempting to kill his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend, Branly Nkosi, by hitting him multiple times in the head with a baseball bat Feb. 12.

The attack caused multiple skull fractures, a brain bleed and other serious life-threatening injuries, according to a criminal complaint. The man also had a stab wound in his back, but the complaint does not state whether the stabbing is thought to have been done by Brown.

Along with the attempted murder charge, Brown is facing one count of willful injury and one count of going armed with intent.

There was another warrant for his arrest related to an incident in December 2020, when he reportedly choked his girlfriend and threw her up against a wall. He fled from police, driving about 60 mph in a 25 mph zone, according to a criminal complaint.

In that incident, he is charged with assault causing bodily injury and attempt to elude.

Brown also is facing drug charges. After warrants were served, police found a digital scale, marijuana and 20 pounds of individually wrapped cocaine in his possession, according to a criminal complaint.

A Cedar Rapids patrol officer recognized Brown on Wednesday shortly after 5 p.m. The officer started tracking Brown and called for backup, according to the news release.

Brown tried to hide in a home in the 1400 block of Bever Avenue SE and escaped out the back as police attempted to contact him, the release states. Canines were deployed during the foot chase, and Brown eventually was arrested after punching an officer.

The charges Brown faces as a result of the chase and the drugs that were found include three counts of interference with official acts and one count each of intent to deliver crack cocaine, failure to affix a drug tax stamp, possession of a controlled substance, assault on persons in certain occupations and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Brown made his initial appearance in court Thursday. He is being held in the Linn County Correctional Center on cash-only bonds totaling $140,000.

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