Milwaukee Police Release Body Cam Footage of Officers Using Taser on NBA’s Sterling Brown; Police Chief Says Officers Have Been Disciplined

On Wednesday, Milwaukee police released the body cam footage of an officer-involved incident with NBA player Sterling Brown, where the rookie was tased and arrested over an alleged parking violation.

“The department conducted an investigation into the incident which revealed members acted inappropriately and those members were recently disciplined,” Chief Alfonso Morales said of the incident, as he added his apologies. “I am sorry this incident escalated to this level.”

In the incident, which occurred on January 26, an officer confronted Brown over an alleged parking across two handicapped spots the drug store parking lot. In the video, the officer approaches Brown’s car, as the baller emerges from the local Walgreens.

The officer then asks Brown’s for his license and inquires about the parking violation. As things get heated, the officer orders Brown to distance himself, as Brown tells the officer to keep his hands off him.

“Are you obstructing me, I just told you to back up,” the officer said, just before he called for backup. “We’re going to figure out what we’re gonna do.”

Then things take a turn for the worse, as additional officers arrive at the scene and approach the young baller. In fact, at one point during the confrontation, an officer orders Brown to take his hands out of his pockets, to which Brown said he has “stuff” in his pockets. That is when the officer’s attack Brown, drag him to the ground and tase him, all of which was caught on tape.

“My experience with the Milwaukee Police Department was wrong and shouldn’t happen to anybody,” Brown said of the incident. “What should have been a simple parking ticket turned into an attempt at police intimidation followed by the unlawful use of physical force, including being handcuffed and tased and unlawfully booked.”

Brown was not charged in the incident, which sparked the internal investigation into the incident.

“The common denominator in all of these situations has been racism towards the minority community, the abuse of power and the lack of accountability for officers involved. The lack of repercussions for the police officers involved in so many of these cases is offensive. This is a slap in the face to the victims’ families and communities,” he said. “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.”