A Houston police officer has been placed on 20-day suspension for striking a former University of Houston basketball star in the head with a nightstick, causing a concussion.

Brenton Green, a senior officer and 15-year veteran with the Houston Police Department, was accused of beating Michael Young, a member of the famed Phi Slama Jama squad at UH in the 1980s.

Young, who had a brief NBA career with the Suns, Clippers and 76ers, is now director of basketball operations at UH.

An Internal Affairs investigation recently sustained a misconduct complaint filed by Young, said department spokesman Kese Smith.

Call for stiff punishment

Young's attorney, Reginald McKamie, said Police Chief Charles McClelland should have been tougher on Green.

More for you News HPD vet suspended for beating ex-UH basketball star

"If Michael Young had reacted and attacked (the officer) for hitting him the back of the head, Michael Young would be facing 20 years in prison, and here this fellow gets 20 days off," McKamie said. "You know, he's got a license to kill people, a license to harm people, and Michael is saying, 'Hey, you've got to stop it somewhere.' "

Green could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

McKamie has said Green attacked his client without provocation at a shoe store in Houston on Dec. 23.

Young went to the store with his son to buy Air Jordan Retro sneakers on the day the new shoes were released, McKamie said. He was at the door, trying to help his son get out of the crowded store, when Green hit him from behind with a nightstick, he said.

Abusive history claimed

Green also cursed at Young and threatened to kill him, McKamie said.

Young went to the emergency room at St. Luke's Hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a concussion.

Later that same day, Young filed a complaint with HPD's Internal Affairs Division. He has since filed a federal lawsuit against Green and the city of Houston, alleging that his civil rights were violated when Green hit him in the head "for no reason."

The lawsuit claims that Green has "a history of citizen abuse."

"What Michael's saying is this police brutality in Houston, Texas, has to stop," said McKamie. "It would have been much easier for him not to come forward, so he is standing up for a lot of Houstonians, and I think that's admirable on his part."

In a response to Young's lawsuit, city attorneys filed court documents stating that although Green admits striking Young with a nightstick, his actions were justified.

Green also has been sued by a man he shot and wounded during a traffic stop in southeast Houston.

An HPD news release at the time said Green had stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in the 5200 block of Pederson at 11:05 p.m. Feb. 24, 2010. The officer approached the vehicle and asked the driver, Steven Sevan Guidry, several times to get out, police said.

Guidry refused, police said, and as Green tried to take him into custody, the two men struggled.

"During the struggle, the suspect reached into his waistband as if to get a weapon," the HPD news release stated. "Fearing for his safety, Officer Green discharged his duty weapon at least once and struck the suspect."

No weapon was ever found on Guidry, who says Green never gave him any instructions before the officer pulled him out by his jacket, threw him to the ground and shot him in the back of his neck.

No-billed in shooting

HPD cleared Green of any wrongdoing in that incident, and a grand jury no-billed the officer.

Guidry was charged with interfering with public duties, but that charge was later dismissed.

McKamie, Young's attorney, said that given Green's previous history, he should have been fired for striking his client.

"I am concerned for Houston's citizens that a man who has shot an unarmed man and has also clubbed an unarmed man is still wearing a badge and has the ability to harm other citizens," the attorney said.

lindsay.wise@chron.com