MILWAUKEE — The Latest on a lawsuit filed against Milwaukee and the city’s police department by NBA player Sterling Brown alleging excessive force (all times local):
12:30 p.m.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Sterling Brown is accusing Milwaukee police officers of discriminating against him because he is black when they used a stun gun during his arrest for a parking violation.
A lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court says officers could have simply issued a citation instead of “unlawfully discriminating against Mr. Brown on the basis of his race.”
Officers detained Brown at about 2 a.m. on Jan. 26 because he was double-parked in a handicap 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 lawsuit accuses police of unlawful arrest and using excessive force. Brown has not been charged.
11:15 a.m.
The attorney for Milwaukee Bucks player Sterling Brown says police officers violated his client’s constitutional rights when they “set up, circled and then attacked” him outside a Walgreens store in January.
Attorney Mark Thomsen spoke at a news conference Tuesday morning outside City Hall, shortly after filing a federal lawsuit against the city of Milwaukee and its police department. Thomsen urged city leaders to acknowledge that Brown’s constitutional rights were violated and approve their claim.
Brown was accused of a parking violation outside the drug store. Police videos show Brown remained calm and did not resist, yet the situation escalated, officers surrounded him and one used a stun gun on him. Thomsen says the city’s policies don’t prevent such conduct by police who arrested Brown that day.
Brown was not charged following his arrest. The police chief has apologized for his officers’ actions.
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10:55 a.m.
A federal lawsuit against Milwaukee police alleges officers tried to reframe what happened when they used a stun gun during the arrest of Bucks’ player Sterling Brown after a parking violation in January.
The lawsuit Brown filed Tuesday says a group of officers instructed a colleague writing an incident report to describe the basketball player as resisting and obstructing them. Videos released by police and obtained by WISN-TV show Brown never threatened the officers and appeared calm while he waited for a parking citation.
One officer involved in the arrest later sent a tweet mocking Brown, saying, “Nice meeting Sterling Brown of the Milwaukee Bucks at work this morning!”
Brown wasn’t charged with anything.
The lawsuit naming the city, police chief, and eight officers alleges excessive force and unlawful arrest.
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10:12 a.m.
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.
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.
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.