Police say cases are connected: two bodies found hours apart, one behind dumpster and other in drainage ditch

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) — The only person arrested in connection with the death of a businessman is a retired Shreveport police officer, the Police Department confirmed Tuesday, Dec. 20.

Officers identified 50-year-old Jason Brook, who retired in January 2019 after a 25-year career, as someone they thought had knowledge of the homicide that claimed the life of 61-year-old Michael P. Grace.

According to officials, investigators questioned Brook and later booked him into Shreveport City Jail on one count of failure to report a felony. He bonded out on a $25,000 bail on Monday, Dec. 19.

Jason Brook, who retired in January 2019 after a 25-year career, was identified as someone who had knowledge of the homicide that claimed Michael Grace's life.

It was just after 2 a.m. Dec. 16 when Grace’s body was found in the parking lot of a nightclub in the 3000 block of Girard Street. Another man’s body was discovered in a drainage ditch just a few hours later. Police believe the two cases are connected.

Shreveport police arrived at the nightclub off Girard Street where Grace was found suffering from severe head trauma. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Several billboards have been put up in the Shreveport-Bossier area offering condolences to the... — Several billboards have been put up in the Shreveport-Bossier area offering condolences to the family of Michael Grace, who was killed Friday, Dec. 16, 2022.(KSLA)

Several billboards have been put up in the Shreveport-Bossier area offering condolences to the... — Several billboards have been put up in the Shreveport-Bossier area offering condolences to the family of Michael Grace, who was killed Friday, Dec. 16, 2022.(KSLA)

Investigators with the violent crimes and crime scene units canvassed the area, spoke to witnesses and collected evidence.

Officers said they then were able to identify Brook as someone they thought had knowledge of the crime.

Early in the investigation, police were able to name 30-year-old William Colby Sirman as the person they believed responsible for Grace’s death, and they began their search for the suspect.

Hours later, just after 9:45 a.m., a citizen found a man’s body in a drainage ditch near the intersection of Kings Highway and Creswell Avenue. Officials with the coroner’s office were able to identify the man as Sirman.

Police said that Sirman had lost control of his motorcycle and that he was pronounced dead at the scene.

This is a developing story. Stay with KSLA News 12 for updates.

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