Sterling Brown promises legal action as MPD releases body camera video from his January arrest

MILWAUKEE -- The body camera video involving the arrest of Milwaukee Bucks' guard Sterling Brown was released by the Milwaukee Police Department on Wednesday, May 23. The video shows a tense situation that escalated quickly. MPD Chief Alfonso Morales apologized for what it shows, as Sterling Brown said he will be taking legal action.

Watch: Sterling Brown arrest body camera video:

Council President Ashanti Hamilton said situations like this take place in Milwaukee nearly every day.

"I’ve experienced what Sterling experienced in that parking Lot. I know this is real and I dont want people to sweep these unde the rug and pretend like it was a one off," said Council President Ashanti Hamilton.

Watch: Milwaukee Police Department news conference ahead of body camera video release:

Milwaukee Police Department statement ahead of body camera video release:

Sterling Brown statement after body camera video release:

Statement from the Milwaukee Bucks after body camera video release:

Watch: Statement from Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett after body camera video release:

The new executive director of the Fire and Police Commission, La Keisha Butler, also weighed in after watching the video:

"My initial reaction is some things probably could have been done differently. However, I’m reluctant to speak about it in specific terms because I do advise the board and members of that board could sit on the disciplinary panel should there be an appeal. I don’t want to taint that process for the panel or for the officers who were involved," said Butler.

Watch: African-American Roundtable leaders hold news conference after body camera video released:

Police said this video release would happen after an internal review of the January arrest of Brown. Police and city leaders, including Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett worked to prepare the public prior to the video's release.

Officials with the Milwaukee Bucks said Wednesday, ahead of the video's release, they had no comment, but said they support Brown. They later issued the statement posted above.

The arrest of Sterling Brown

It happened on Jan. 26. A Taser was used on him after police said around 2 a.m., they encountered a vehicle parked across two disability parking spaces at the Walgreens store near 27th and National. He was never criminally charged, but he was cited.

Sources said officers were writing a parking ticket for Brown when Brown confronted them and became combative. He was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest. At least six police squads showed up to the store during this incident, which was captured by surveillance cameras at a nearby business.

"I told you to back up," an officer says in the body camera video as he confronts Brown.

"You're trying to get in the car," an officer says."I do what I want. I own this right here."

The situation quickly escalated.

"Take your hands out of your pockets now," an officer says in the video.

"I got stuff in my hands," said Brown.

Brown was taken to the ground, and a taser was used. Brown can be heard groaning in the video.

The officer later tried explaining why he did what he did.

"If the guy hadn't been such a (expletive) it would've been -- 'hey, have a nice day,' you know? But then I thought, 'he's being an (expletive). He's trying to hide something,'" the officer said.

"I'm sorry this incident escalated to this level," said Chief Morales as he read from a statement during the news conference. "Our department conducted an investigation into the incident, which revealed members acted inappropriately and those members were recently disciplined."

Morales did not explain what actions were inappropriate, or how the officers were disciplined. He abruptly left after reading the statement, and didn't answer questions, as Brown, in his statement, promised legal action.

Police, after the arrest, said an internal review was completed and MPD "determined the case will not be presented to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office for charges." According to police, "a command-level review of relevant reports and body camera footage indicate that Mr. Brown’s actions and behavior do not merit a criminal charge. Furthermore, the department is reviewing the police response including supervisory oversight. The matter was referred to MPD Internal Affairs for investigation and at the completion of that investigation, police said the findings would be made public and the body worn camera footage would be released.

An attorney representing Brown declined to comment Wednesday ahead of the video's release, but all signs indicate Brown is planning to file a civil rights lawsuit against MPD.

City leaders speak out ahead of body camera video's release

Those who watched the video ahead of its release expressed concern about what they saw.

"I'm going to let the release of that speak for itself, but I definitely have concerns after watching that video," said Barrett.

Alderman Jose Perez said Wednesday before the release he hadn't seen the video, but encouraged the public to give the new MPD administration a chance to handle the aftermath of the video's release.

"I am confidant appropriate actions will be taken. We want to give the administration a chance to deal with a situation like this and see the outcome of it and see if it's appropriate or not," said Perez.

Alderman Mark Borkowski said he's heartbroken, disappointed and felt it was wrong. He would not comment further. Alderman Bob Donovan said he wouldn't comment Wednesday because there may be litigation. Alderman Tony Zielinski said he wouldn't comment until he got all the facts.

Several Milwaukee Common Council members who watched the video prior to its release declined to comment.

Milwaukee Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton said Wednesday he's planning a Thursday news conference in response.

County supervisors did not want to comment.

Milwaukee Police Association statement after body camera video release:

Statement from the Wisconsin Professional Police Association Thursday:

Statement from spokesman for Gov. Scott Walker Thursday:

Statement from Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) after body camera video release:

Statement from Rep. David Bowen (D-Milwaukee) Thursday:

Statement from Senator Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) Thursday:

Statement from Randy Bryce, Congressional candidate in 1st District, after body camera video release:

Statement from Congresswoman Gwen Moore Thursday:

Statement from Alderman Bob Donovan Thursday:

Statement from Milwaukee County Supervisor Moore Omokunde Thursday:

Statement from Milwaukee County Supervisor Marcelia Nicholson Thursday:

Statement from Voces de la Frontera Thursday:

Background on Sterling Brown and MPD

The Milwaukee Bucks signed the 6-foot-6 guard from Southern Methodist University last summer in a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Brown's arrest and the video of it represent another potential setback for a department that for years has tried to rebuild its image and relationship with Milwaukee's African-American residents after several high-profile cases of police misconduct.

A day before releasing the body-camera footage, Morales posted a video on YouTube to reiterate his commitment to rebuild the public's trust in the department.

"So if there's ever an incident where one of our members makes a mistake, unnecessarily escalating a situation, I'm going to be honest and transparent about it," he said. "In those incidents, where we have made mistakes and are wrong, I'm sorry."

Morales was appointed chief in February, following the retirement of Edward Flynn, who held the position for 10 years.

Last year, Milwaukee paid $2.3 million to settle a lawsuit over the death of Dontre Hamilton, a mentally ill man fatally shot by a police officer after the officer roused him from a park bench downtown. The officer said he shot Hamilton 14 times in self-defense because they got into a struggle when the officer frisked him for weapons.

In 2016, the city paid $5 million to settle a lawsuit by 74 African-American residents who said police illegally strip-searched them between 2008 and 2012. Currently, the city is considering settling a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union in Wisconsin, which is representing eight residents who say police targeted them for stops because they were African-American or Latino and because of the high-crime areas where they lived.

In early May, police and prosecutors began investigating four officers who were involved in the violent arrest of a man near 51st and Capitol. Video from a bystander showed a group of officers kicking and punching the man on the ground while he was restrained. Police presented their body-camera footage of the encounter, which showed the man aggressively charging at officers and trying to punch them.