Milwaukee offers Bucks player Sterling Brown $400K to settle police suit
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee city officials are offering Bucks guard Sterling Brown $400,000 to settle his lawsuit accusing police of using excessive force and targeting him because he's black when they confronted him over a parking violation.
"From day one, this case has been about whether this city -- my city -- can identify a problem, accept responsibility, and move forward," said Mark Thomsen, Brown's attorney. "The way I understand it, we will be receiving an offer of judgement that will allow Mr. Brown 14 days to respond."
Brown illegally parked in a disabled spot outside a Walgreens on Jan. 26, 2018, and was talking with a group of officers while waiting for his citation when the situation escalated. Officers took him down and used a stun gun because he didn't immediately remove his hands from his pockets, as ordered.
Sterling Brown arrest
"Everybody saw the video I think pretty much on all sides there was an acceptance that this is not the way we want police officer to engage citizens of this city," said Milwaukee Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton.
On Wednesday, the Common Council approved to offer $400,000 to settle the case. Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton said while police work is hard, this was a mistake that can't be ignored.
"Mistakes will be made," Hamilton said. "What we don't want is to protect those mistakes we want to correct them."
The police chief and the mayor have both publicly apologized for the incident.
Sterling Brown body camera video
Mark Thomsen
"It should never have happened and I think this is a strong good faith effort to correct what happened," said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
Brown's attorney says he has not received the offer in writing but knows for sure no settlement will be accepted unless the city admits Brown's civil rights were violated.
"We can't heal in this city without that," Thomsen said.
Brown's attorney says he does not think this offer reflects what his client endured in the aftermath of the incident. If the offer is rejected, the lawsuit will continue.