Milwaukee Police Apologize After Tasing a Star Basketball Player for a Parking Ticket
What Went Down
Late at 2 a.m. on January 26, Sterling Brown—the 23‑year‑old guard for the Milwaukee Bucks—got pulled over by a lone officer for parking in a handicapped spot.
Brown tried to keep things calm, handed over his ID, and asked why the whole thing was taking a long time.
The officer told him they were waiting for backup, then mis‑judged the situation.
A squad of six officers rolled in. One shouted, “Hands out of your pockets!”
Brown, clutching a thing in his hands, replied, “No, I’ve got stuff.”
The officers wrestled the 6‑foot‑6‑inch warrior to the ground, gave him a stun‑gun zap, and cuffed him.
City Response
Chief Alfonso Morales released a statement apologizing for the escalation and announced that the officers were disciplined.
City mayor Tom Barrett called the footage “concerns‑raising.”
Brown was handed a parking citation, but no criminal charges.
Brown’s Reaction
“I thought this was just about a parking ticket, but it turned into an intimidation act.”
He’s threatening legal action.
He cited high‑profile cases (Laquan McDonald, Eric Garner) to highlight systemic bias: “Black men shouldn’t always be on guard when a cop pulls up.”
Bucks’ Statement
“The incident is shameful and inexcusable.”
The team applauded good cops but warned against racial biases.
Community and Social‑Media Saga
The video sparked heated Twitter chats; a teammate posted a #STANDWITHSTERLING meme.
Old scars from 2016 (the Sylville Smith shooting) made people wary.
Community leaders met with police before the video went public, but the backlash was already fierce.
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Bottom Line
A seemingly trivial parking stop blew up into a police‑tasing spectacle.
The city apologized, disciplined the officers, and the player’s family is stepping up their legal game.
It’s a reminder that the police‑black‑community tension in Milwaukee—and nationwide—has still got a few cracks that need fixing.
