Milwaukee Bucks Sterling Brown Files Lawsuit Against Police

MILWAUKEE, WI — Milwaukee Bucks guard Sterling Brown has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the City of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Police Department, claiming that he was wrongfully arrested, and subjected to excessive force when officers deployed a stun gun on him on Jan. 26 after an apparent parking violation escalated into a tasing and arrest.

Defendants in the suit include the City of Milwaukee, Police Chief Alfonso Morales, Sgt. Sean Mahnke, Sgt. Jeffrey S. Krueger and Officers Joseph J. Grams, Bojan Samardzic, James P. Collins, Cristobal Martinez Avila, Erik A. Andrade and Jason P. Jensen.

"This experience with the Milwaukee Police Department has forced me to stand up and tell my story so that I can help prevent these injustices from happening in the future," Brown said in a statement following the release of police bodycam footage. "Black men shouldn't have to have their guard up and instantly be on the defensive when seeing a police officer, but it's our reality and a real problem. There must be mutual respect and both sides have to figure out how to accomplish this."

In a press conference in front of Milwaukee City hall at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Brown's attorney, Mark Thomsen, elaborated on the lawsuit and what he expects to happen once its filed.

"Mister Brown hopes that instead of the typical denial of the claims, that in its answer the city actually admits to the wrongdoing, admits that his constitutional rights were violated, and sends a message that in Milwaukee a new day can start," he said Tuesday

The Incident

According to Milwaukee police, officers were conducting a business check around 2:00 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26 at the Walgreens located at S. 26th Street and W. National Avenue when they encountered a vehicle parked across two disability parking spaces.

Police say they spoke with Brown, and during the incident a taser was deployed on him and he was arrested. According to initial police reports, Brown was booked into the Milwaukee County Jail and later released the next morning.

Body Camera Footage Speaks Volumes

A portion of police video pulled from a responding officer's body camera shows Milwaukee Police officers confronting Brown. Within moments, a total of eight officers formed a circle around Brown. An officer demanded that Brown immediately take his hands out of his pockets - even though he had already done so numerous times, according to footage.

Brown says in the video, "Hold on, I have stuff in my hands." Police tackled Brown at that moment, and Brown could be heard screaming as a taser was deployed on him. Officers asked for Brown's identification. Brown handed over his ID, and said he was a player for the Milwaukee Bucks.

An officer could be heard on the video saying in a mocking tone, "I don't follow the Bucks. I don't recognize you. I didn't recognize your famous name,"

When Brown asked the officer to verify his employer, the officer dished out more ridicule.
"I don't know how to do that. So why don't you tell me? You been to Mars? You been to Venus? You been to the moon?"

Brown told the Journal Sentinel in an interview last month that he "gave in" when police used a stun gun and that he didn't do anything to resist because he didn't want officers to "pull out their guns.""I was just being smart. I just wanted to get out of the situation and get home," he said.

“It was a disturbing video when I saw it, and I know that the police chief feels the same way,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said this week to The Journal Sentinel. “And I don’t know exactly what actions his department is going to take, but it is disconcerting to see some of the actions in that video.”

Media Firestorm Feared

Previous video made available to the public shows that Milwaukee Police feared a "media firestorm" if Brown filed a complaint in response to the incident.

Milwaukee police apologized profusely for the incident, the fallout includes disciplinary action against two of the officers involved, a pending civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Brown and searing public outrage.

"The Department conducted an investigation into the incident which revealed members acted inappropriately and those members were recently disciplined, Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said in a statement earlier this year. "I am sorry this incident escalated to this level.

Yet according to the video, police officers were much less apologetic while on-scene.

One officer can be heard saying, "We are trying to protect ourselves," in the video. A voice over the CB radio in the officer's squad responds back, “Because he plays for the Bucks, if he makes a complaint, it’s going to be a media firestorm."

The officer on the radio continues, "And then any little thing that goes wrong is going to be like 'no, Milwaukee Police Department is all racist ... blah, blah, blah.'”

According to the lawsuit, as reported by the Chicago Tribune, one of the officers took to social media following the incident to ridicule Brown: "Nice meeting Sterling Brown of the Milwaukee Bucks at work this morning! Lol#FearTheDeer

"The abuse and intimidation that Sterling experienced at the hands of Milwaukee Police was shameful and inexcusable. Sterling has our full support as he shares his story and takes action to provide accountability," The Milwaukee Bucks said in a statement.

Brown a 23-year-old Maywood, Illinois, native, played college basketball at Southern Methodist University before being drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks. He averaged 4.0 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in his first season in the NBA.

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