SERBIAN-AMERICAN OFFICER ARRESTED PARTIZAN BASKETBALL PLAYER: Sterling Braun confronted Milwaukee Police six years ago!

Partizan basketball player Sterling Braun was once involved in a heated confrontation with an American police officer of Serbian descent in Milwaukee, where he lived and played for the Milwaukee Bucks at the time, according to Serbian Times, citing reliable sources.

On January 26, 2018, Braun was tased and tackled by several police officers after parking across two handicapped spaces in front of a drugstore and refusing to follow police orders. One of those officers was a fellow countryman, an American of Serbian descent (whose name is known to the Serbian Times editorial staff).

Braun later complained that one of the Milwaukee police officers had stepped on Braun’s ankle during the arrest, while others had mocked him when he mentioned he would be filing civil rights lawsuits. The Milwaukee Bucks player filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging that the Milwaukee Police Department used excessive force in violation of the 14th Amendment.

ARREST AND CHARGES: The moment when the police arrested Sterling Braun The officer reportedly asked Braun, who was 22 at the time, for his license before telling him to step back and shoving him. Braun responded by repeatedly telling the officer not to touch him, after which the officer called for backup.

At one point, the officer asked Braun to remove his hands from his pockets, and Braun replied that he had “stuff” in his pocket. Other officers then grabbed the athlete and pulled him to the ground before using a taser.

According to the lawsuit, in addition to discriminating against Braun because he was black and violating his rights by treating a parking violation as a criminal offense, the officers also failed to read Braun his Miranda rights.

Sterling Braun eventually settled for $750,000 with the city of Milwaukee over the dispute with the city’s police department. The Milwaukee Police Association initially defended the officers who arrested Braun in 2018, calling the use of force a “necessary component of policing” and criticizing city leaders for not defending the officers.

But after body camera footage was released to the public, the union softened its tone and said it welcomed “appropriate consideration and oversight” of the matter.

Following the incident, two sergeants were suspended without pay — for 10 and 15 days, respectively — for “failing to exemplify professional police service.” Another officer was also suspended for two days for “failing to treat any member of the public courteously and professionally.” Eight others were required to undergo remedial training in professional communication, officials said in 2018.

After leaving the Milwaukee Bucks, Sterling Braun played for the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers before joining Partizan via Alba Berlin.

Text: Serbian Times, CNN Photo: Policija Milvokija, Wikipedia