Tyler Man Used a ‘Clubhouse’ to Lure Children for Sex

On Friday, July 13, Tyler Police responded to Shiloh Pines (mobile home park), located at 2525 Shiloh Road, to investigate a report of sexual assault of a child.

Officers contacted the mother of a 9-year-old female victim who made an outcry that she and several of her friends around the same age had been sexually assaulted by a 21 year-old male who lives in the mobile home park.

The victim stated that the assaults had occurred in a wooded area, where the suspect known as “Tom” had made a club house, inside the mobile home park on numerous occasions over the past month.

Investigators were called to the scene and were able to obtain evidence to secure an arrest warrant for the suspect.

The suspect is identified as Thomas Harold George Brookbank, of Tyler.  Brookbank was charged with Continuous Sexual Abuse of Young Children, a first degree felony and placed in Smith County Jail.   His bond was set at $750,000.00.

This case is still under investigation with five children having been identified as victims thus far. If anyone has further information about this case please contact the Detective Brown with the Tyler Police Department at 903-533-1880.

Woman Robbed at Gunpoint at the Tyler Public Library

An 82-year-old woman who was returning a book to the Tyler Public Library was robbed in the parking lot Saturday afternoon as she sat in her vehicle finishing the book.

Tyler Police says the suspect was under the awning at the library and walked to the victim’s vehicle. He displayed a black handgun and demanded that the victim take him where he wanted to go. She refused and stepped out of her vehicle and gave the suspect $100. The suspect then walked to Bois d Arc St. and was last seen walking north from the scene.

The suspect is described as a black male, 19-20 years of age, 5’10 and clean shaven.

Officers checked the area with no suspect being located. No injuries in the incident.

The incident is under investigation at this time.