Bucks Player Tased by Police to File Suit

Bucks rookie Sterling Brown plans to file a civil rights lawsuit against the Milwaukee Police Department as a result of being tased and arrested in January, his attorney confirmed.

As of Tuesday, internal investigators at the Police Department had not asked the district attorney to consider criminal charges against any of the police officers or supervisors involved in the incident, according to Milwaukee County Chief Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern.

Police Department officials have not said whether any of the police personnel who arrested Brown after questioning him about a parking violation will be disciplined. A department spokeswoman declined to provide more information about the internal investigation, which is ongoing.

The Journal Sentinel first requested body camera footage of Brown's arrest and reports about it the day it happened. Police have repeatedly denied the request, citing the pending investigation.

Brown and the Bucks have been told the body camera video will be released Wednesday, according to Brown's attorney, Mark Thomsen of Gingras, Cates & Wachs.

Three people who have watched the video told the Journal Sentinel the NBA guard does not appear to do anything to provoke police.

"He isn't combative, isn't threatening," said one source. "Very bad."

The sources asked that their names not be used because they weren't authorized to speak about the video.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said the actions of the officers depicted in the footage made him uneasy.

"It was a disturbing video when I saw it, and I know that the police chief feels the same way," Barrett said Tuesday. "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."

Brown's arrest did not result in criminal charges against him. The incident began about 2 a.m. Jan. 26, when officers doing a business check at the Walgreens near West National Avenue and South 26th Street saw a vehicle parked across two handicap spaces, according to Milwaukee police.

In its initial statement, Milwaukee police said officers spoke with a 22-year-old man about the situation and "an electronic control device was deployed" during the encounter.

Brown had been arrested on a possible misdemeanor charge of resisting or obstructing an officer, but after an internal review that included viewing the body camera footage, police officials decided not to refer him to prosecutors.

He was cited for a parking violation, a police spokesman said at the time.

Brown played in a game later that day and had bruises and marks on his face. He told reporters then it was a "personal issue" and declined to discuss it further.

Daniel Bice and Mary Spicuzza of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report

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