Newly-released police bodycam video shows officers getting rough with NBA player Sterling Brown during an encounter that reportedly happened in Milwaukee on January 26. Now the Milwaukee Bucks guard says he plans on suing the department.
It all started after Brown had allegedly parked a Mercedes across multiple parking spaces when cops approached him. Things got heating when one officer asked Brown to take his hands out of his pockets, but her refused, saying he was holding something. Multiple officers soon swarmed him, wrestling him to the ground. An officer can then be heard yelling, “Taser! Taser! Taser!”
Brown can then be heard yelling in pain.
The full video from the police can be seen here, with the incident beginning at the 7:55 mark.
Eventually, the situation calmed down and Brown could be seen talking to one of the officers, debating over who initiated the incident.
“I am sorry this incident escalated to this level,” Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said in a statement. He noted that officers who were involved and “acted inappropriately” have been disciplined.
“What should have been a simple parking ticket turned into an attempt at police intimidation, followed by unlawful use of physical force, including being handcuffed and tased and then unlawfully booked,” Brown said in his own statement. He went on to say, “Black men shouldn’t have to have their guard up and instantly be on the defensive when seeing a police officer, but it’s a reality and a real problem.”
He noted that “There must be mutual respect, and both sides have to figure out how to accomplish this.”
The Bucks organization supported Brown, saying:
It shouldn’t require an incident involving a professional athlete to draw attention to the fact that vulnerable people in our communities have experienced similar, and even worse, treatment.
We are grateful for the service of many good police officers that courageously protect us, our fans and our city, but racial biases and abuses of power must not be ignored.
[Image via Milwaukee Police Department screengrab]
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