A Detroit native and former Ball State football star is back in the United States after spending three years in a Chinese prison.
Wendell Brown, a former Detroit King and Ball State linebacker, landed at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Wednesday morning after his release from prison Tuesday.
"I've been waiting on this moment for years. I've dreamed of this moment," Brown told reporters at DTW Wednesday morning.
Wendell Brown hugs relatives after his arrival at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Romulus, Mich. Brown returned from China where he was imprisoned for his involvement in a bar fight. Brown, a native of Detroit had been teaching English and American football in southwest China when he was arrested in September 2016 and charged with intentional assault. (Photo: Carlos Osorio, Associated Press)
Brown was imprisoned in Chongqing, China, in September 2016 after he was caught in a bar fight. The former CFL player was teaching football in China when he was charged with intentional assault in the fight, which he disputed.
"Anyone who supported me in any way ... I thank you," Brown said. "It's only because of these people, and their love, and their support, and their positive energy, and their prayers and the power of God that I'm standing here today."
More: 'Don't have to cry no more': Wendell Brown back in Detroit, feeling blessed
Wendell Brown hugs relatives after his arrival at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Romulus, Mich. Brown returned from China where he was imprisoned for his involvement in a bar fight. Brown, a native of Detroit had been teaching English and American football in southwest China when he was arrested in September 2016 and charged with intentional assault. (Photo: Carlos Osorio, Associated Press)
Brown was in prison for nearly two years before he received a sentence of four years in June 2018. Based on good behavior and restitution to the bar fight victim (funded by a GoFundMe and Ball State alums), Brown's sentence was knocked down to three years last November.
Matt Liston, a documentary filmmaker who has been telling Brown's story and corresponding with the former football player during his prison sentence, announced in Instagram posts on Tuesday that Brown had boarded a plane and was heading home.
Brown's supporters announced in July via a "Justice for Wendell Brown" Facebook page that he would be released Sept. 24. Tuesday posts from the page and from Brown's mother confirmed that the former football star was out of prison and on his way back to the United States.
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After 20 months in Chinese prison, CFL's Wendell Brown to get verdict
George Stoia, Detroit Free Press Published 1:25 p.m. ET June 27, 2018 | Updated 1:55 p.m. ET June 27, 2018
Detroit native and former CFL player Wendell Brown will finally receive a verdict on a trial that took a year in the making.
Brown, who has been in a Chinese prison for nearly two years after being arrested for a bar fight in Chongqing, will receive a verdict Wednesday night from his trial that took place last year, according to a report Tuesday on ESPN's Outside the Lines.
Brown, who was helping teach American football in China after playing at Ball State and in the CFL, was never convicted for the bar incident and has been waiting his verdict for more than 20 months. According to Michigan Public Radio, Brown has denied that he hit anyone in the fight. If convicted, Brown could face three to 10 years in prison, also according to Michigan Public Radio.
Brown's story has started to gain national attention as documentary filmmaker Matt Liston has take upon himself to tell Brown's story.
Liston has been exchanging letters with Brown over the course of his imprisonment.
"One thing that is very clear, is his spiritual strength," Liston told ESPN's Outside The Lines. "He misses his family, he loves his family and friends, and he wants to be home."
Liston says Brown's family has been a key component in bringing attention to his story. In March, Brown's family friends went to Washington D.C. hoping to speak with politicians to help bring Wendall home.
Now, the United States government has started helping the Brown family. This is not the first time the U.S. has gotten involved with an athlete's imprisonment in China.
In November of 2017, three UCLA basketball players were arrested for allegedly shoplifting. One of those players was LiAngelo Ball, the son Lavar Ball, which in turn got President Donald Trump involved as well. The players were eventually released after only a couple days in prison.
Brown has waited much longer.
"The government, both the Chinese government and the United States government have been working together on this case," Liston said on OTL. "The White House and the state department are working tirelessly to bring Wendell Brown home."
Wednesday night, Brown will find out his fate. Liston and Brown's family are remaining optimistic.
"While they have a 99 percent conviction rate in the Chinese courts, what we're hoping to hear is the news that there are many scenarios that could play out that allow for an immediate release where Wendall can come home to his family."
Wendell Brown and his son. (Photo: Provided by Antoinette Brown)
Wendell Brown, a former Detroit King and Ball State linebacker, landed at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Wednesday morning after his release from prison Tuesday.
"I've been waiting on this moment for years. I've dreamed of this moment," Brown told reporters at DTW Wednesday morning.
Wendell Brown hugs relatives after his arrival at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Romulus, Mich. Brown returned from China where he was imprisoned for his involvement in a bar fight. Brown, a native of Detroit had been teaching English and American football in southwest China when he was arrested in September 2016 and charged with intentional assault. (Photo: Carlos Osorio, Associated Press)
Brown was imprisoned in Chongqing, China, in September 2016 after he was caught in a bar fight. The former CFL player was teaching football in China when he was charged with intentional assault in the fight, which he disputed.
"Anyone who supported me in any way ... I thank you," Brown said. "It's only because of these people, and their love, and their support, and their positive energy, and their prayers and the power of God that I'm standing here today."
More: 'Don't have to cry no more': Wendell Brown back in Detroit, feeling blessed
Wendell Brown hugs relatives after his arrival at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Romulus, Mich. Brown returned from China where he was imprisoned for his involvement in a bar fight. Brown, a native of Detroit had been teaching English and American football in southwest China when he was arrested in September 2016 and charged with intentional assault. (Photo: Carlos Osorio, Associated Press)
Brown was in prison for nearly two years before he received a sentence of four years in June 2018. Based on good behavior and restitution to the bar fight victim (funded by a GoFundMe and Ball State alums), Brown's sentence was knocked down to three years last November.
Matt Liston, a documentary filmmaker who has been telling Brown's story and corresponding with the former football player during his prison sentence, announced in Instagram posts on Tuesday that Brown had boarded a plane and was heading home.
Brown's supporters announced in July via a "Justice for Wendell Brown" Facebook page that he would be released Sept. 24. Tuesday posts from the page and from Brown's mother confirmed that the former football star was out of prison and on his way back to the United States.
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After 20 months in Chinese prison, CFL's Wendell Brown to get verdict
George Stoia, Detroit Free Press Published 1:25 p.m. ET June 27, 2018 | Updated 1:55 p.m. ET June 27, 2018
Detroit native and former CFL player Wendell Brown will finally receive a verdict on a trial that took a year in the making.
Brown, who has been in a Chinese prison for nearly two years after being arrested for a bar fight in Chongqing, will receive a verdict Wednesday night from his trial that took place last year, according to a report Tuesday on ESPN's Outside the Lines.
Brown, who was helping teach American football in China after playing at Ball State and in the CFL, was never convicted for the bar incident and has been waiting his verdict for more than 20 months. According to Michigan Public Radio, Brown has denied that he hit anyone in the fight. If convicted, Brown could face three to 10 years in prison, also according to Michigan Public Radio.
Brown's story has started to gain national attention as documentary filmmaker Matt Liston has take upon himself to tell Brown's story.
Liston has been exchanging letters with Brown over the course of his imprisonment.
"One thing that is very clear, is his spiritual strength," Liston told ESPN's Outside The Lines. "He misses his family, he loves his family and friends, and he wants to be home."
Liston says Brown's family has been a key component in bringing attention to his story. In March, Brown's family friends went to Washington D.C. hoping to speak with politicians to help bring Wendall home.
Now, the United States government has started helping the Brown family. This is not the first time the U.S. has gotten involved with an athlete's imprisonment in China.
In November of 2017, three UCLA basketball players were arrested for allegedly shoplifting. One of those players was LiAngelo Ball, the son Lavar Ball, which in turn got President Donald Trump involved as well. The players were eventually released after only a couple days in prison.
Brown has waited much longer.
"The government, both the Chinese government and the United States government have been working together on this case," Liston said on OTL. "The White House and the state department are working tirelessly to bring Wendell Brown home."
Wednesday night, Brown will find out his fate. Liston and Brown's family are remaining optimistic.
"While they have a 99 percent conviction rate in the Chinese courts, what we're hoping to hear is the news that there are many scenarios that could play out that allow for an immediate release where Wendall can come home to his family."
Wendell Brown and his son. (Photo: Provided by Antoinette Brown)
