CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Legislature turned into bizarre drama on Wednesday, with Assemblyman Steven Brooks trying to sneak in and out of the building — wearing a hooded sweatshirt and hobbling with a cane — and apparently engaging the protection of the Las Vegas Constable’s office.

The sideshow with Brooks, who is accused of threatening fellow Democrat Assembly Speaker-elect Marilyn Kirkpatrick, played out on the first floor of the Legislative Building while legislators upstairs began the serious work of reviewing Gov. Brian Sandoval’s $6.7 billion budget.

Brooks was arrested this weekend on a charge of threatening a public official. Authorities said they found a loaded Smith & Wesson handgun and 41 rounds of ammunition in the vehicle he was driving at the time of the arrest.

He came into the Legislative Building about 11 a.m. Wednesday walking with a cane and wearing dark sunglasses, with a brown hoodie pulled partially over his face. The North Las Vegas Democrat was escorted by Legislative Police, who shepherded him into an office.

Brooks never attempted to go upstairs to the budget hearing he otherwise would have been a part of, where lawmakers began to stake out positions on spending and the state’s budget director presented the new “performance-based budgeting” system. Brooks is a member of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, which, along with the Senate Finance Committee, was conducting the hearing.

But instead of going over the budget, Brooks was involved in an hourlong, closed-door meeting with legislative staff. When it ended, he made a Michael Jackson-like exit from the Legislature, with police hustling him, flanked by family, to a waiting state vehicle.

He said “no comment” to reporters’ questions as he left the building. He flashed a peace sign as he got into the vehicle.

Legislative Counsel Bureau Director Rick Combs said Brooks was planning to participate in the session. Legislative leaders, including Kirkpatrick, have been mum about any plans not to seat Brooks or to expel him from the Legislature.

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