City of Milwaukee responds to Sterling Brown lawsuit, denies wrongdoing during tasing arrest

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The City of Milwaukee is officially responding to the lawsuit from Bucks player Sterling Brown.

The arrest happened on January 26 in the parking lot of a Walgreens. Brown claimed officers used excessive force when they took him down and tased him.

In a 51-page response, the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee Police Department do not take the blame, saying Sterling Brown is the one at fault.

The lawsuit filed in June in federal court alleges the Milwaukee Police Department's arrest of Brown was unlawful and racially motivated excessive force.

The City responds to the lawsuit, denying wrongdoing saying in part:

"The plaintiff's injuries, if any, were not caused by any policy, practice, or custom of the City of Milwaukee...or any of its officers, agents, or employees, acting in their individual or official capacities."

It also goes on to say,

"The injuries and damages sustained by the plaintiff, if any, were caused in whole or in part by their own acts or omissions."

Read the full response here.

The new response is very different than what was heard previously when Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales apologized when the body cam video was released and three officers were suspended.

The body cam video from the January arrest shows Brown talking to officers after he illegally parked across two handicap spaces outside a Walgreens. Officers later tased Brown and took him down.

Brown was taken to jail but was never charged with a crime. Hours after the arrest, he played in a Milwaukee Bucks game with bruises on his face.

CBS 58 spoke with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on Saturday, who says he hopes the city can reach a settlement with Brown.

"I don't want this to be a situation where a lot of money is spent on lawyers. I want us to sit down, do what's right, and move the city forward," Mayor Barrett said.

CBS 58 has reached out to Sterling Brown's attorney, but they will not comment on the response until Monday.