�Killer� Tim Brooks has faced many opponents in the wrestling ring � battling towering figures such as Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan the Million Dollar Man and Fritz Von Erich in his career. With the help of the Ellis County Sheriff�s Office, Brooks won his latest �title match� Tuesday.

About 20 years ago Brooks wore his North American Wrestling Allegiance Heavyweight Champion belt before entering the ring to compete at the Dallas Sportatorium. He took off the belt and climbed in the ring, but when he returned to the locker room to retrieve his belt � it wasn�t there.

Brooks won the North American Wrestling Allegiance Heavyweight belt back in the early 1990s during a tournament held at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas. Once the belt went missing, Brooks filed a report with the Dallas Police Department.

Last month, Brooks saw a picture of his belt on Facebook � the bell had rung and the match was on. He contacted the person in possession of the belt on Facebook, John Lusk, and asked for it back. After three phone calls, Lusk said he would not return the belt, so Brooks filed a report with the Sheriff�s Office on Sept. 17.

�Brooks showed up and told us the history on the belt. He said that he had made a report many years ago with the Dallas Police Department,� Investigator Joe Maddox said. �The belt ended up being in Bowie, Texas. The gentleman was using the belt to do his own public relations stuff.�

Lusk had been using the belt to promote himself as a professional wrestler. Brooks gave Maddox and Investigator Glenn Smith photos from Lusk�s Facebook page in which he was posing with the belt.

When they could locate the original report Brooks filed with Dallas PD, they traveled out to Bowie to meet with Lusk. The investigators met with Lusk and his attorney, and Lusk told them he had gotten the belt at a wrestling convention in Oklahoma.

�He (Lusk) felt that it might have been Mr. Brooks� belt, but he did not know for sure if it was a replica or not. We were able to persuade him to let us take possession of the belt for a property hearing to decide if it actually was Mr. Brooks� belt or a replica belt,� Maddox said. �We started tracking down the history of the belt. We contacted the manufacturer and found that it is a one-of-a-kind and not a replica.�

Maddox said during the investigation, they spoke with the craftsman that made the belt. Investigators then compared the heavyweight belt to another from the same manufacturer that Brooks owned. Both belts were made at the same time and found to be unique in their craftsmanship, stamping and leatherwork.

The property hearing took place Tuesday, Oct 15 with Judge Jackie Miller Jr. presiding. Miller�s gavel came down like the ringing of the match bell and Brooks was the winner.

Maddox said Brooks� gratitude was more than enough of a reward.

�It�s great to see him get something back that was near and dear to his heart,� he said.

Smith said he feels that the investigation went smoothly and they were able to take Brooks� information and run with it.

�It is exciting to see Brooks excited,� Smith said. �As a kid I went to the Sportatorium and watched him wrestle.�

Brooks said he wants to thank Maddox and Smith for their hard work in helping him bring the belt back home to Ellis County. Brooks also wanted to extend his thanks to the entire Sherriff�s Office for the great service it provides to the community day in and day out.

As for the belt, Brooks plans to reintroduce it into the wrestling community, so it can pass to another worthy wrestler who will cherish it. He plans to retire his title and award the belt to a new heavyweight champion on Nov. 2 at a match in his arena. Brooks� will host the Ellis County Smackdown match to award his belt at 6 p.m. at 472 Cox Road in Waxahachie. Doors open at 5 p.m.

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