The chilling video just released by the Milwaukee police shows the Bucks rookie being taken down and tazed by officers, and has prompted responses from the team, player and police chief.
- Body-cam footage of the arrest of Milwaukee Bucks rookie Sterling Brown was released on Wednesday, showing the young player being taken down by police and tased.
- The police apologized for the incident after an internal investigation, admitting that officers "acted inappropriately."
- Both Brown and the Bucks organization released statements urging more accountability with regard to the racial biases and abuses of power amongst the police.
The Milwaukee Police Department apologized on Wednesday, admitting that officers "acted inappropriately" after an internal investigation regarding the arrest and use of a stun gun on Bucks rookie Sterling Brown during an incident in January. Brown had been initially questioned by police over a potential parking violation.
"I am sorry this incident escalated to this level," Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said in a statement.
The footage released on Wednesday shows police taking Brown to the ground and using a taser on him. Brown can be heard in the background, and shows no signs of resisting the officers throughout.
You can watch the video released below:
Brown released a statement on the matter:
My experience in January with the Milwaukee Police Department was wrong and shouldn't happen to anybody. 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 then unlawfully booked. This experience with the Milwaukee Police Department has forced me to stand up and tell my story so that I can help prevent these injustices from happening in the future.
Situations like mine and worse happen every day in the black community. Being a voice and a face for people who won't be heard and don't have the same platform as I have is a responsibility I take seriously. I am speaking for Dontre Hamilton of Milwaukee, Laquan McDonald of Chicago, Stephon Clark of Sacramento, Eric Garner of New York, and the list goes on. These people aren't able to speak anymore because of unjust actions by those who are supposed to "serve and protect" the people.
His statement continued:
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.
There are no easy solutions to this problem, but there are strides that can be made to create change. I will do my part in helping to prevent similar incidents from happening to the minority community in the future.
Brown ended his statement by saying that he would "take legal action against the Milwaukee Police Department to continue forcing change in our community."
The Bucks organization also released a statement on the incident, saying that "The abuse and intimidation that Sterling experienced at the hands of Milwaukee Police was shameful and inexcusable. Sterling has our full support as he shares his story and takes action to provide accountability."
The Bucks also acknowledged the "many good police officers that courageously protect us," but added that there was a need for more accountability and that "racial biases and abuses of power must not be ignored."