Chief admits he hadn't seen 'half the videos' in Sterling Brown case: 'Wasn't expecting that to come out'

MILWAUKEE -- New body camera footage shows Milwaukee Bucks' guard Sterling Brown being stepped on and mocked by Milwaukee police during a January arrest. It's led Milwaukee Common Council members to call for a possible police audit. This, as Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales admitted Wednesday, June 6 he hadn't even seen all of the video, and he didn't expect that it would all be seen by the public.

Chief Morales said he focused on the use of the Taser on Brown, but didn't see "half the videos" of how his officers acted before and after the arrest. Many in City Hall are questioning whether the officers' punishments meet their actions.

The day before Milwaukee police released video of the Brown arrest, a public relations video was released, in which Chief Morales walks through Milwaukee neighborhoods and says this:

Although the new video in the Brown case was not released by police, in a stunning admission Wednesday, Chief Morales said he hadn't seen much of the footage that shows Brown being stepped on and mocked.

"I wasn't expecting any of that to come out. I didn't see half the videos either. For that to have been given to you, or whoever it was given to, I don't know how that got there, but we're still working on our stuff internally," said Chief Morales.

Chief Morales said he didn't watch all of the video because he was focused on the use of the Taser. He said the investigation is ongoing.

"I've said 'give us time.' Nobody is happy with that, and I'm not defending those actions, and what I am trying to do is change the department and build community trust," said Morales.

After seeing the new video, 10 Milwaukee Common Council members are calling for more accountability, an explanation and more from police.

"I was disappointed -- and the question was, why didn't we see the entire video?" said Alderman Russell Stamper.

"We're just calling for more transparency. All of the videos, reports and anything having to do with the incident," said Alderwoman Milele Coggs.

The council members say the police did not share all of the Brown arrest video with them in a meeting nearly two months ago. Leaders saw the new videos the same time as the public -- this week.

"That was part of what ticked me off the most. We should have been given all of the information when we were in closed session," said Alderwoman Chantia Lewis.

Chief Morales said the raw footage was only given to Brown's attorney. He said the closed-session meeting with Common Council members was held to show what members had asked for.

"To show specifically the problem and arrest and the tasing of Sterling Brown. That's what we focused on," Morales said.

Common Council members now want an audit of all activity associated with the incident. They also want the results of be presented in an open session for the public to see and hear.

"To afford an opportunity for MPD to come before us and the community," Coggs said.

Brown was not charged in this incident. He was issued a parking violation. Brown is expected to file a civil lawsuit against the Milwaukee Police Department.

Below is the joint statement from Milwaukee Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton, Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderman Michael Murphy, Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderman Nicholas Kovac, Alderman Jóse G. Pérez, Alderman Robert Bauman and Alderman Cavalier Johnson -- requesting the audit.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has submitted a letter to the head of the Fire and Police Commission, requesting an FPC review "of existing policies and potential changes to the policy for the release of body camera footage by the Milwaukee Police Department."

Below is the letter from Barrett to La Keisha Butler: