HOUSTON – A traffic stop led to the arrest of a wanted sex offender in northeast Houston Wednesday night.
Police said Sherman Brooks, a convicted felon, was working as a security guard and had a gun on him.
Police told KPRC 2 that Brooks pulled into a nearby apartment complex near Crofton and Tidwell after officers stopped him. Brooks told officers he was the complex security guard. That's when they learned he was a convicted felon.
"I'm honest with the officers," Brooks said. "I've never had a problems with going to jail or anything like this."
"I'm shocked," Steve Zola, the apartment property manager told KPRC 2. "I knew his background, but he was helping in a lot of investigations for us."
During his arrest, officers found Brooks wearing a gun on his hip, along with body armor. Officers also found a tin of marijuana in his car.
ONLY ON @KPRC2: Convicted felon & registered sex offender Sherman Brooks has a LONG criminal history. He allegedly had a gun and body armor. pic.twitter.com/sL2At3PTh8
— KPRC Cathy Hernandez (@KPRC2Cathy) January 12, 2017
Brooks told KPRC 2 he confiscated the drugs from a vacant unit. He continued, saying he didn't know it was against the law for a felon to buy body armor, but he did know he should not have had a gun.
"As far as the weapon, I accept responsibility for that, but here's my thing. The fact of the body armor, it was sold to me from a police store," Brooks said.
Brooks had nine warrants out for his arrest. He also has a lengthy criminal history. He's been convicted of multiple theft cases, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, failure to register as a sex offender, possession of a firearm by a felon, deadly conduct and criminal trespass.
"Anybody can change and make a difference. It's not like I'm out here contributing to the crime rate," Brooks said.
Brooks is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.