US police chief apologises for arrest of NBA player, releases video
CHICAGO: The police chief in the Midwestern US city of Milwaukee apologised Wednesday for the tasing and arrest of a black professional basketball player over a parking violation, as his department released video of the incident.
Chief Alfonso Morales said disciplinary action had been taken against the officers involved in the January arrest of Sterling Brown, who plays for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.
It is the latest case to highlight the fraught relationship between black communities and law enforcement across the US.
In Milwaukee, there have been several recent protests over controversial police interactions with black people – including the deadly shooting of a 23-year- old in 2016.
The newly- released body cam footage of Brown’s arrest shows him initially detained by one officer for parking in a handicapped zone at around 2: 00 am on January 26.
Brown, 23, engages in tense dialogue with the officer and gives him his identification. The officer tells him that he is waiting for additional backup.
“We’re figuring out what we’re gonna do. Whether we’re giving you a ticket, whatever,” the unidentified officer says.
“You can’t do that by yourself?” Brown asks, questioning why he was being detained for such a long time over a parking violation.
Soon, at least six additional officers surround Brown and one of them yells: “Take your hands out of your pockets now!”
Brown responds: “No. I got stuff in my hands.”
At that point, officers tackle the six- foot, six-inch man to the ground, tase and handcuff him.
The city’s Mayor Tom Barrett said the video raised “concerns.”
“Members ( of the pol ice department) acted inappropriately, and those members were recently disciplined,” Chief Morales said at a news conference.
“I am sorry this incident escalated to this level,” he added, without releasing the names of the officers involved.
Brown was issued a parking citation, but not charged with any criminal offence. In a statement, he vowed to take legal action against Milwaukee police.
“What should have been a simple parking ticket turned into an attempt at police intimidation, followed by the unlawful use of physical force,” he said. — AFP