Click here to read the full complaint in the Sterling Brown lawsuit. (WARNING: Graphic language)
MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Bucks guard Sterling Brown is suing the city and its police department because officers used a stun gun on him during his arrest for a parking violation in January.
Brown’s attorney Mark Thomsen filed the lawsuit in federal court Tuesday alleging excessive force and unlawful arrest.
“African-American men can’t walk around safely without fearing police,” said Thomsen on WTMJ’s Wisconsin’s Afternoon News.
“Most officers act appropriately. The fact that some weren’t disciplined shows there’s something wrong in the city and needs to be fixed.”
Watch the full news conference with Brown’s attorney below.
Brown had been talking with officers while waiting for a citation for illegally parking in a disabled spot outside a Walgreens. Officers swarmed Brown and took him down because he didn’t immediately remove his hands from his pockets as ordered.
The 45-page federal civil rights lawsuit claims to have proof one of the officers made light of the arrest on social media: pic.twitter.com/8sf9FcI8gf
— Julia Fello TMJ4 (@JuliaFello) June 19, 2018
Police Chief Alfonso Morales apologized to Brown last month when body-camera video of the arrest was released. Brown wasn’t charged and three officers were disciplined, with suspensions ranging from two to 15 days.
Eight other officers are undergoing remedial training in professional communications.
When reached for comment by WTMJ Radio, the Milwaukee Police Department says chief Alfonso Morales will, “be reviewing this incident at the Public Safety & Health Committee meeting Thursday morning at 9 a.m and will be available for comment afterward.”
Video of the confrontation shows an officer approached Brown around 2 a.m. When their conversation becomes tense, the officer calls more squad cars for help and eventually eight officers are standing around Brown. One asks him to take his hands out of his pockets and a second or two later the scuffle begins. Almost immediately, an officer yells: “Taser! Taser! Taser!”
Mayor Tom Barrett added this statement in full: “I’m hopeful this incident will be a turning point and allow us to take those actions necessary to improve police community relations.”
