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Milwaukee Bucks rookie Sterling Brown’s attorney announced Tuesday plans to file a civil lawsuit against the Milwaukee Police Department. It is one day before body-camera footage is expected to surface of a January incident involving Brown and police officers.
The video, which Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett described as “disturbing” and “disconcerting,” is expected to show footage of officers tasering Brown — who was described as non-combative by a source in a report from the The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel — during questioning about a parking violation outside of a Walgreens at 2 a.m. on Jan. 26.
“It was a disturbing video when I saw it, and I know that the police chief feels the same way,” Barrett said Tuesday, via 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.”
“He isn’t combative, isn’t threatening,” a source told The Journal-Sentinel. “Very bad.”
Brown was arrested on a possible misdemeanor charge of resisting or obstructing an officer, but after an internal review of the body-camera footage, officials opted against sending him to prosecutors, according to The Journal-Sentinel. He played against Brooklyn the night after he was released from jail with visible bruises and marks on his face. He shot 1-of-7 in a win against the Nets.
Ashley Luthern of The Journal-Sentinel appeared on ESPN2’s Outside the Lines on Tuesday and told Bob Ley she believed Bucks leadership had seen the footage and was fully aware of the situation.
Milwaukee police are preparing for backlash over body cam footage that reportedly shows police using a stun gun on a non-combative NBA guard, Sterling Brown. Reporter @aluthern says that footage could be released as soon as tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/9SZQY6bxEx
— Bob Ley (@BobLeyESPN) May 22, 2018
The Milwaukee Police Department has been preparing for potential public backlash once the footage is released to the public. Assistant police chief Michael Brunson Sr. spoke in front of a church congregation on Sunday, where he begged for their support ahead of the video’s release.
A potentially embarrassing video for the Milwaukee Police Department that will soon be released involves the January arrest of Bucks rookie Sterling Brown, WISN 12 NEWS has learned.
— WISN 12 NEWS (@WISN12News) May 21, 2018
>> https://t.co/WYDip4t4zt pic.twitter.com/58qKBx1KbB
“There’s going to be a video that’s going to come out soon, in the next couple of weeks, involving the department,” he said, according to Fox 6 News Milwaukee. “And I’m going to be honest with you, we’re going to need your support during the challenges.”
The 76ers selected Brown with the 46th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft then traded him to the Bucks for cash considerations. The 22-year-old guard averaged four points and 2.5 rebounds in 14 minutes per game off the bench and posted a season-high 15 points on 50 percent shooting against the Rockets on March 7.