Brown family remains committed to holding Paradise Valley accountable for death of patriarch

Protests greet elected leaders to regular Town Council meetings

By Melissa Rosequist
Twitter: @mrosequist_

Since November, protesters donning yellow signs have stood in front of Paradise Valley Town Hall in an effort to create added public awareness about the 2015 accidental death of resident Howard Brown.

“Paradise Valley killed and covered up in PV!” the signs held by about 15 people lining Lincoln Drive state.

More than four years ago, Paradise Valley Town Councilman Paul Dembow’s 19-year-old daughter was driving the vehicle that hit and killed Mr. Brown while he was walking the family dog.

He was 77-years-old, and ultimately succumbed to his injuries and died in the hospital.

“Our goal is to keep encouraging the neighborhood and people to be aware of it --- you can’t let people kill people. You can’t let police clean-up a person’s blood before detectives get there,” Judith Brown, one of Mr. Brown’s three daughters, said of their protest efforts.

A jury deemed Paige Dembow clear of any charges stemming from the accident.

However, the Brown family remains steadfast that wrongdoing took place at the hands of the local police department, as Ms. Dembow --- who had an ignition interlock system installed in her car --- was not given a breathalyzer test nor was her blood tested.

Ms. Dembow also has court records from 2013 and 2014 showing marijuana violations, narcotic drug violations and drug paraphernalia violations.

The Browns are in the process of an appeal lawsuit against Ms. Dembow.

The day of the November 2015 accident, Mr. Dembow arrived to the scene and ultimately took his daughter away from the scene.

“I feel badly for the Brown family,” Mr. Dembow said of the loss of their family member. “I’m sure they believe they were wronged --- I wish nothing but the best for them.”

Mr. Dembow says he feels sad for the family, and points out the outcome of the trial.

“If you had to sit through a two-week trial as I did --- all the evidence was heard --- nobody was killed and covered up in PV. One hundred percent of what happened in that trial --- there was a police accident reconstruction --- it was an accident. They found it to not even be 1% my daughter’s fault,” Mr. Dembow explained.

“So, what they’re doing now, what they’re trying to find, I think as a lot of people do, is trying to find some reason and someone else to blame.”

Mr. Dembow is serving his third term as councilman, having been re-elected in 2018.

“Now is the time. The judicial system is quite lacking in justice,” Ms. Brown said. “I think it’s critical that the community understands and knows what is happening...”

She says creating public awareness will be the way to make a difference and hold the appropriate parties accountable. Her father’s death has sparked a passion, and Ms. Brown says fighting for public safety has changed her life.

“More people are understanding with our leadership it allows them to feel more comfortable letting their voice be heard and help fight for our safety,” she said. “The people of Arizona know that our Town Council and our police are hired and elected to work for us, but quickly realizing they do not work for us in our town. The violent death of my father, Howard Brown, and the botched investigation is proof.”

Ms. Brown says it will not be tolerated for officials to work against the public, or provide a different set of rules of themselves.

“Nobody is above the law and nobody will be treated like roadkill,” she said.

The protesters are comprised of friends, family and some people are paid to be there, Ms. Brown contends. While the signs identify the municipality as the issue, she says all of the responsible parties are connected.

“It’s to identify the location for this issue,” Ms. Brown said of why the signs are specific to the town, and not the Dembow family or police department.

“But primarily, Paradise Valley, in general, is linked through the councilman and what I believe his connections to the police department are. To me, they are all in one.”

The Browns’ efforts extend beyond Lincoln Drive, as the family has created a website and social media campaign. In addition, Ms. Brown says she puts flyers around town and concentrates around the area of the “crime.” But, she believes the police department takes her flyers down.

“This is a public safety announcement, regardless of whatever they think their policies are,” she said. “I find that very conflicting and evil. It’s just going to get bigger. We will have more people go door to door, more signs, and more flyers.”