IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
______________________________________________________________________________
STERLING D. BROWN,
Plaintiff,

COMPLAINT

v.

Civil Action No. 2:18-cv-922
[Trial by Jury Demanded]

CITY OF MILWAUKEE,
CITY OF MILWAUKEE CHIEF OF
POLICE ALFONSO MORALES, in his
Official capacity,
SERGEANT SEAN A. MAHNKE,
SERGEANT JEFFREY S. KRUEGER,
OFFICER JOSEPH J. GRAMS,
OFFICER BOJAN SAMARDZIC,
OFFICER JAMES P. COLLINS,
OFFICER CRISTOBAL MARTINEZ AVILA,
OFFICER ERIK A. ANDRADE, and
OFFICER JASON P. JENSEN,
Defendants.
______________________________________________________________________________

NOW COMES Plaintiff, STERLING D. BROWN, by his attorneys Mark L. Thomsen,
and Scott B. Thompson, of GINGRAS, CATES & WACHS, LLP, and complains against the
above-named Defendants, and for his claims for relief, alleges and shows to the court as follows:
I. INTRODUCTION
1.

This is a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to redress the deprivation

under color of law of Plaintiff’s rights to be free of excessive force and unlawful arrest and for
equal protection under the laws as secured by the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the
United States Constitution.
II. JURISDICTION AND VENUE
2.

This Court has original jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331
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 (federal question) and 28 U.S.C. § 1343 (civil rights).
3.

Venue in this district is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2) because the events

and conduct giving rise to the Plaintiff’s claims asserted herein occurred within this judicial
district.
III. PARTIES
4.

Sterling D. Brown, date of birth February 10, 1995, was 22 years old and at all

times relevant hereto was an adult citizen of the United States living at an apartment in St.
Francis, WI. Mr. Brown suffered severely on January 26, 2018 as a result of the Defendants’
unlawful conduct as alleged herein. Mr. Brown is African American.
Defendant City of Milwaukee (“Milwaukee”), with offices of its executive at 200

5.

E. Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202, is and was at all times material hereto, a Municipal
Corporation organized under the laws of the State of Wisconsin.

Milwaukee established,

operated and maintained Milwaukee Police Department (“MPD”) at all times material hereto;
Milwaukee is ultimately responsible for the training, supervising, and discipline of MPD
employees and the creation and implementation of its policies and procedures through its Chief
of Police, currently Chief Alfonso Morales, and had ultimate control and authority over MPD
and all Defendants, and pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 895.46, is obligated to indemnify all Defendants
in this action.
6.

Defendant Alfonso Morales (“Morales”) is the Police Chief of the Milwaukee

Police Department.

In that capacity he oversees the MPD.

By law, custom, de-facto or

otherwise, and/or delegation, he has policymaking authority over the police department for all
actions at issue in this case. He is responsible for ensuring that the policies and practices of the
MPD comply with federal and state requirements for the treatment of citizens like the Plaintiff.

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 He is sued in his official capacity for all the constitutional claims at issue arising out of
Plaintiff’s unlawful racially motivated and excessive force arrest and detention. At all times
relevant to this action, Morales was acting under color of law and within the scope of his
employment with the MPD or Milwaukee.
7.

Defendant Sergeant Sean A. Mahnke (“Mahnke”) is an adult citizen of the State

of Wisconsin and a resident of the State of Wisconsin. Defendant Mahnke was a sergeant with
MPD at all times relevant to this action and was acting under color of law and within the scope
of his employment with the MPD or Milwaukee at all times relevant hereto.
8.

Defendant Sergeant Jeffrey S. Krueger (“Krueger”) is an adult citizen of the State

of Wisconsin and a resident of the State of Wisconsin. Defendant Krueger was a sergeant with
MPD at all times relevant to this action and was acting under color of law and within the scope
of his employment with the MPD or Milwaukee at all times relevant hereto.
9.

Upon information and belief, Krueger has been involved with at least eight (8)

Use of Force incidents involving his Taser prior to the occurrence of the subject matter of this
complaint, including the deployment of his Taser in four (4) incidents that did not result in
charges being brought against his victims.
10.

Defendant Police Officer Joseph J. Grams (“Grams”) is an adult citizen of the

State of Wisconsin and a resident of the State of Wisconsin. Defendant Grams was a police
officer with MPD at all times relevant to this action and was acting under color of law and within
the scope of his employment with the MPD or Milwaukee at all times relevant hereto.
11.

Defendant Police Officer Bojan Samardzic (“Samardzic”) is an adult citizen of

the State of Wisconsin and a resident of the State of Wisconsin. Defendant Samardzic was a

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 police officer with MPD at all times relevant to this action and was acting under color of law and
within the scope of his employment with the MPD or Milwaukee at all times relevant hereto.
12.

Defendant Police Officer James P. Collins (“Collins”) is an adult citizen of the

State of Wisconsin and a resident of the State of Wisconsin. Defendant Collins was a police
officer with MPD at all times relevant to this action and was acting under color of law and within
the scope of his employment with the MPD or Milwaukee at all times relevant hereto
13.

Defendant Police Officer Cristobal Martinez Avila (“Avila”) is an adult citizen of

the State of Wisconsin and a resident of the State of Wisconsin. Defendant Avila was a police
officer with MPD at all times relevant to this action and was acting under color of law and within
the scope of his employment with the MPD or Milwaukee at all times relevant hereto.
14.

Defendant Police Officer Erik A. Andrade (“Andrade”) is an adult citizen of the

State of Wisconsin and a resident of the State of Wisconsin. Defendant Andrade was a police
officer with MPD at all times relevant to this action and was acting under color of law and within
the scope of his employment with the MPD or Milwaukee at all times relevant hereto.
15.

Defendant Police Officer Jason P. Jensen (“Jensen”) is an adult citizen of the

State of Wisconsin and a resident of the State of Wisconsin. Defendant Jenson was a police
officer with MPD at all times relevant to this action and was acting under color of law and within
the scope of his employment with the MPD or Milwaukee at all times relevant hereto.
IV. GENERAL FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
A.

BACKGROUND
16.

Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations of all the

preceding paragraphs.

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 17.

Violence by law enforcement against African American people in the United

States is a national crisis. See Jennifer Bjorhus & MaryJo Webster, Convicted But Still Policing,
StarTribune (Oct. 1, 2017, 12:00 AM), http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-police-officersconvicted-of-serious-crimes-still-on-the-job/437687453/; Amanda Claire Curcio & Hunter Field,
Deadly Force: In 6 years, 53 blacks shot by police in Arkansas, Arkansas Online (Mar. 13, 2017,
4:30 AM), http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/mar/13/6-years-53-blacks-shot/; Wesley
Lowery, Police are still killing black people. Why isn’t it news anymore?, Wash. Post (Mar. 16,
2018), http://wapo.st/2p9NWyW?tid=ss_sms-amp; Carol Marbin Miller, Fight Club: A Miami
Herald

Investigation

Into

Florida’s

Juvenile

Justice

System,

Miami

Herald,

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/special-reports/florida-prisons/article176773291.html;
Montgomery,

Why

Cops

Shoot,

Tampa

Bay

Times

(Apr.

5,

Ben
2017),

http://www.tampabay.com/projects/2017/investigations/florida-police-shootings/why-copsshoot/; Eugene Scott, Police Shootings of unarmed black people have not ended. But top-level
political

conversations

about

them

have.,

Wash.

Post

(March

22,

2018)

http://wapo.st/2FXiQG0?tid=ss_sms-amp.
18.

In July of 2016, the Washington Post began tracking all police shootings, since

2015, wherein a police officer, in the line of duty, shot and killed a civilian. See Julie Tate et al.,
How The Washington Post is Examining police shootings in the United States, Wash. Post (July
7,

2016),

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/how-the-washington-post-is-examining-

police-shootings-in-the-united-states/2016/07/07/d9c52238-43ad-11e6-8856f26de2537a9d_story.html?utm_term=.e377a9bae1f7.
19.

According to the Washington Post’s data, since January 1, 2015 233 people have

been shot and killed by a police officer while unarmed.

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 20.

This imbalance in violence against African Americans by police officers is

particularly rampant in the State of Wisconsin. Mesic et al., The Relationship Between Structural
Racism and Black-White Disparities in Fatal Police Shootings at the State Level, 110, Journal of
the National Medical Association, 106, 110 (2018).
21.

In Wisconsin, over fifteen unarmed African Americans are shot by police officers

for every individual unarmed white person shot by a police officer. Id.
22.

The specific ratio of unarmed African Americans shot by police in Wisconsin

compared to unarmed white people shot by police in Wisconsin is 15.91:1. Id.
23.

This ratio – 15.91:1 – is the second highest ratio in the entire country and is over

three times the national average of 4.53:1. Id. at 111.
24.

Compounding this issue, Wisconsin outranks the rest of the country in its State

Racism Index score–a numerical representation of structural racism. Id. at 110.
25.

Thus, tragically, both economically and socially, Wisconsin is a particularly

hostile location for African Americans in general, and specifically with regards to their
interactions with police and police violence.
26.

On February 22, 2017 a class action, U.S.D.C. Eastern District of Wisconsin Case

No. 17-CV-00234-JPS, was filed against Milwaukee alleging Milwaukee’s policies, practices,
and customs related to stops and frisks by MPD violated the United States Constitution by: (1)
authorizing MPD officers to stop people without individualized, objective, and articulable
reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution; (2) authorizing MPD officers to frisk people without individualized, objective, and
articulable reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and dangerous in violation of the Fourth
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; and (3) sustaining stops and frisks of African American

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 and Latino people that involve racial and ethnic profiling, or are otherwise motivated by race and
ethnicity, rather than reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct in violation of the Fourteenth
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, among others.
27.

To date, Milwaukee denies all such claims (as set out in proposed but yet

unsigned Settlement Agreement and Consent Decree in said action).
28.

The City of Milwaukee’s police officers, including the individual Defendants, are

allegedly trained, including through the MPD’s Standard Operating Procedures, that, among
others:


When a police officer stops a driver for violating a traffic law, the driver may only
be asked questions reasonably related to the nature of the traffic violation. Absent
an articulable suspicion that the driver has committed or is about to commit a
crime, no further questions are allowed and all questions must bear a reasonable
relationship to the traffic violation at issue.



The use of force by a police member must be objectively reasonable. Police
members shall use only the force necessary to effectively maintain control of a
situation and protect the safety of police members and the public.



Force intended or likely to cause great bodily harm may only be used if
reasonable under all the circumstances then existing to prevent great bodily harm
or death to the officer or a third party.



Any officer who personally observes another officer using force, which the
observing officer believes to be beyond that which is objectively reasonable under
the circumstances, shall reasonably attempt to intervene to prevent the use of such
excessive force, if the observing officer is in a position to do so, and if any such

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 intervention does not jeopardize safety. A failure to intervene in any
unreasonable use of force, when there is an opportunity to do so,
demonstrates a lack of courage, and a violation of the Code of Conduct.


An Electronic Control Device (ECD, or Taser) utilizes propelled wires, or direct
contact, to conduct electrical energy to affect the sensory and motor functions of
the nervous system, disrupting the body’s ability to communicate messages from
the brain to the muscles, causing temporary motor skill dysfunction (neuro
muscular incapacitation) to the human being.



Electronic control devices should not be used in an unjustified manner.



Electronic control devices should not be used against people who are offering
only passive and/or verbal resistance.



In general, the only persons arrested for traffic citations are for O.W.I.



Arrest is defined as “[t]aking or detaining of a person by word or action into
custody so as to subject their liberty to the actual control and will of the person
making the arrest.”



Probable Cause is defined as “[t]hat quantum of evidence which would lead a
reasonable police officer to believe that the Defendant committed a crime.”



An officer may make an arrest without a warrant if the officer has probable cause
to believe a person is committing or has committed a crime.


B.

Race should not determine the decision to arrest or not arrest.

UNLAWFUL ARREST, EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE, AND DETENTION OF
MR. BROWN
29.

Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations of all the

preceding paragraphs.
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 30.

On January 26, 2018, at around 2:00 AM, Mr. Brown arrived at the Walgreens

location at 2625 West National Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was a chilly morning–the
wind chill hovered around 26 degrees Fahrenheit.
31.

Mr. Brown parked his loaner Mercedes-Benz in a handicapped parking area while

he quickly popped inside of the Walgreens.
32.

While Mr. Brown was inside of the Walgreens, Defendant Grams parked his

MPD police wagon in the same, virtually empty, Walgreens parking lot where Mr. Brown parked
his vehicle.
33.

Grams exited his police wagon, squad no. 2390, and walked towards Mr. Brown’s

vehicle.
34.

While walking towards the building, Grams activated his Body Worn Video

Camera (“BWVC”). Grams’ BWVC, and the BWVC of the other Defendants and vehicle video,
captured a significant portion of the unlawful events that took place in the parking lot that
morning. The times noted herein are best estimates from videos from scene given the limited
information obtained to date.
35.

Mr. Brown exited the Walgreens at 02:03:17 AM, and returned toward his

vehicle, and he noticed an individual, alone, waiting for him outside of his vehicle.
36.

As Mr. Brown made his way around the front of his vehicle, the individual

marched towards Mr. Brown and positioned himself directly in front of Mr. Brown’s body,
between Mr. Brown and the driver’s side door of his vehicle. This individual was Defendant
Grams.
37.

Under Wis. Stat. § 968.24, “[a]fter having identified himself or herself as a law

enforcement officer, a law enforcement officer may stop a person in a public place for a

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 reasonable period of time when the officer reasonably suspects that such person is committing, is
about to commit or has committed a crime, and may demand the name and address of the person
and an explanation of the person's conduct.”
38.

Parking improperly in a handicapped space is not considered a crime in

Wisconsin. According to Police Chief Alfonso Morales, Grams was to have simply issued Mr.
Brown a citation for the parking violation (see page 3 of the Chief’s Complaint to the Board of
Fire and Police Commissioners of the City of Milwaukee dated May 21, 2018 attached hereto as
Exhibit A).
39.

Defendant Grams never identified himself as a law enforcement officer, or

otherwise introduced himself in any way to Mr. Brown.
40.

Instead, at 02:03:21 AM, Defendant Grams immediately began to question Mr.

Brown. Defendant Grams demanded that Mr. Brown produce a driver’s license and then yelled at
Mr. Brown to back away from his own car.
41.

Approximately ten seconds after first approaching Mr. Brown, and before Mr.

Brown had any reasonable opportunity to respond to Defendant Grams’ demands, Defendant
Grams unlawfully shoved Mr. Brown.

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 42.

Mr. Brown remained calm and peaceful, backed away from Defendant Grams,

and made no attempt to enter his vehicle.
43.

Defendant Grams again never identified himself as a law enforcement officer as

required by Wis. Stat. § 968.24.
44.

Less than thirty seconds after Defendant Grams first approached Mr. Brown,

Defendant Grams phoned dispatch and requested backup.
45.

While Defendant Grams called in his request for backup, Mr. Brown waited

quietly.
46.

After contacting dispatch, Defendant Grams returned to Mr. Brown again, telling

him to “back up!” in a loud voice.
47.

Mr. Brown asked Defendant Grams, “for what?”

48.

Defendant Grams deceptively accused Mr. Brown of obstructing, and then told

Mr. Brown “I’ll do what I want, alright? I own this right here.”
49.

Mr. Brown replied, “You don’t own me, though.”

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 50.

Even when Mr. Brown offered reasonable answers or responses to the questions

that Defendant Grams shouted at him, Defendant Grams refused to acknowledge Mr. Brown’s
answers or otherwise chose to imply that Mr. Brown was refusing to answer questions or
somehow resisting.
51.

For example, in the following exchange captured on Defendant Grams’ BWVC

Defendant Grams even refused to acknowledge his name and then exacerbated the situation by
falsely accusing Mr. Brown of behaving improperly:
Defendant Grams:

What’s your name – what’s your name?

Mr. Brown:

It’s on there, Sterling Brown.

Defendant Grams:

I’m asking you.

Mr. Brown:

I’m telling you, Sterling Brown.

Defendant Grams:

These are simple questions, man.

Mr. Brown:

No, I’m answering them. I ain’t got no problems,
but you’re touching me.

Defendant Grams:

These are simple questions, and you’re being – and
you’re being like – and you’re being all bad ass to
me, alright?”

Mr. Brown:

I am not, but you touched me.

Defendant Grams:

I asked you a question so I could verify this okay –
you don’t think I see these that are – whatever –
fake, so I’m asking your name.

52.

Defendant Grams continued to aggressively question Mr. Brown about the

parking issue outside of Mr. Brown’s vehicle for another two minutes.
53.

During this time period, Defendant Grams began to misrepresent how the entire

interaction began, only minutes earlier:

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 Defendant Grams:

You look at me like I got something going on in my
head, alright?

Mr. Brown:

No, I’m just saying you touched me – that’s the
initial – that’s – that’s my –

Defendant Grams:

Right, because you got up in my face, okay?

Mr. Brown:

I got up in your face? Really? Come on, bro. Come
on.

54.

At 02:06:10 AM, three minutes after Defendant Grams first stopped Mr. Brown,

several additional police vehicles, carrying additional police officers, arrived at the scene of this
parking violation matter.
55.

As the other officers arrived, Defendant Grams had yet to identify himself to Mr.

56.

The initial responding vehicles were MPD squad nos. 2420 (Avila); 2411

Brown.

(Krueger); 2440 (Collins and Samardzic); 2311 (Mahnke); and 2340 (Andrade and Jensen).
57.

As the other Defendants arrived, Defendant Grams informed them that the

situation was “no big deal” and that the presence of all the additional officers was unnecessary
because he only needed to issue a ticket and wanted only one squad.
58.

Rather than order the responding officers to immediately leave the scene, Sgts.

Mahnke and Krueger allowed all the other Defendants to stay and they exited their vehicles and
approached Mr. Brown.
59.

The questioning of Mr. Brown continued outside of his vehicle, allegedly over a

parking violation.
60.

As the questioning pressed on, Defendants began to surround Mr. Brown outside

of his vehicle.

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 61.

Mr. Brown remained calm, never encroaching on the officers, or attempting to

62.

After informing other officers that the situation was “no big deal,” Defendant

flee.

Grams also walked back toward Mr. Brown.
63.

As Defendant Grams returned to Mr. Brown’s vehicle, Mr. Brown’s car alarm

went off.
64.

Mr. Brown reached into his pocket, grabbed his keys, and used the key fob to

deactivate the alarm.

65.

Defendant Grams’ BWVC captured Mr. Brown taking his hands in-and-out of his

pockets while Defendants Krueger and Avila are visible questioning him.

66.

No officer surrounding Mr. Brown made any comments about the location of his

hands while he was taking them in and out of his pockets.
67.

As is his constitutional right, Mr. Brown asked Defendant Krueger why he was

being interrogated over a parking issue.

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 Defendant Krueger responded to Mr. Brown, stating “because you’re bothering

68.

me”; then threatened to tow his car away; and stated that Mr. Brown “should be in handcuffs.”
69.

Some seven-and-a-half minutes after Defendant Grams first initiated contact with

Mr. Brown, and after Defendant Grams informed the other officers that the situation was “no big
deal,” requiring only a parking ticket, six officers continued to fully surround Mr. Brown. As
they did so, Krueger peered in the driver’s side rear window and Mahnke, on his way around Mr.
Brown’s vehicle to confront Mr. Brown, looked into the passenger’s side rear window.
70.

Mahnke and Krueger both saw what appeared to be paper targets which had bullet

holes in them.
71.

Mahnke and Krueger both knew that a person has a 2nd Amendment right to carry

guns. Both knew that it is legal and constitutional to have targets with bullet holes in your car.
72.

Mahnke and Krueger both knew that having paper targets with bullet holes in

your car is not reasonable suspicion of any criminal conduct.
73.

Regardless of this knowledge, Defendants Mahnke and Krueger nodded to each

other to signal their next move.
74.

Mr. Brown’s hands had been back in his pockets for approximately one minute by

the time the officers fully surrounded him.
75.

Mr. Brown had not committed any crime, and there was no reason to suspect that

Mr. Brown was in the process of committing a crime, or that he would ever commit a crime.
76.

Nonetheless, Defendant Mahnke again demanded: “What’s your name sir?” Mr.

Brown responded: “So what – like what are we doing? My name is Sterling Brown.” Mahnke
then asked: if “Okay – you don’t have a CCW permit?”

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 77.

Mr. Brown asked what a CCW was, then said no. Mahnke then demanded: “Do

you have any guns?” Mr. Brown said “No.” Nonetheless, both Krueger and Mahnke then
essentially told Mr. Brown to “Take your hands out of your pockets.”

They made these

statements at 02:10:48 AM.
78.

As Defendant Mahnke shouted this statement, Defendant Samardzic pulled out

his pistol.
79.

Before Mr. Brown had any real opportunity to comply, and while Defendant

Samardzic stood gun-in-hand, the other Defendant officers closed in on Mr. Brown. By 02:10:51
AM, Defendant Krueger had grabbed Mr. Brown’s left arm.
80.

At 02:11:05 AM Mr. Brown was kneed in the groin by one of the officers and the

other Defendants surrounding Mr. Brown took control of his body and threw him to the
pavement at about 02:11:09 AM.
81.

At 02:11:16 AM Mr. Brown screamed out in pain, “You got my neck!”

82.

A few seconds after being unlawfully forced to the ground by six police officers,

one officer can be heard on the BWVC asking if anyone has a Taser.
83.

While in complete physical submission laying on the ground with the officers on

top of him, Mr. Brown feared for his life.
84.

At 02:11:20 AM Defendant Mahnke called out an order to tase Mr. Brown.

85.

At 02:11:21 AM Defendant Samardzic, who had holstered his firearm, yelled,

““TASER! TASER! TASER!” and deployed his Taser into Mr. Brown’s back.
86.

Several BWVCs capture Mr. Brown’s agony while thousands of volts of

electricity shot through his body.

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 87.

Shortly after Defendants threw Mr. Brown to the ground, Defendant Grams used

his right foot to stomp on Mr. Brown’s leg. Then after the Taser was shot into Mr. Brown’s back,
Defendant Grams proceeded to stomp on Mr. Brown’s leg with both feet.

88.

Defendant Grams stood on Mr. Brown’s leg for an extended period of time while

Mr. Brown remained on the ground.
89.

After Mr. Brown was unlawfully tackled, tased, and cuffed over an alleged

parking incident, Defendant Grams commented to Defendant Krueger, “[i]f the guy hadn’t been
such a dick it would have been ‘hey, have a nice day!’ you know? But then I thought, okay he’s
being an ass, he’s trying to hide something.”
90.

At 02:11:38 AM, Defendants cuffed Mr. Brown, while he was face-down on the

cold, wet pavement.
91.

As he stood at the window of one of the police vehicles, Defendant Grams said to

himself, “what is wrong with these people, man.”
92.

Starting at 02:13:49 AM, and continuing until 02:16:41 AM, Defendant Collins

stood on Mr. Brown’s left ankle for about 2¾ minutes, while Mr. Brown remained cuffed, laying
on the cold wet pavement.
93.

Minutes after being tased, Mr. Brown asked the officers, “all this for what?”

94.

Defendant Collins responded, “Because you’re being stupid now.”

95.

At 02:17:00 AM, Defendant Samardzic asked Mr. Brown if he played for the

Bucks.
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 96.

Seven (7) seconds after asking this question, Defendants permitted Mr. Brown to

97.

When Mr. Brown sat up for the first time, at 02:17:07 AM, nearly six minutes had

sit up.

elapsed since Mr. Brown was first taken to the ground.
98.

After Defendant Krueger learned of Mr. Brown’s professional status, at 02:21:28

AM, he commented to Mr. Brown, “I hope you guys make the playoffs – I like the Bucks. My
kid loves the Bucks.”
99.

Defendant Krueger asked Mr. Brown “[y]ou want to get off the wet pavement?

We can stand you up. You want to stand up?”
100.

Mr. Brown stood up at 02:22:24 AM, nearly twelve minutes after he was first

unlawfully attacked and thrown to the cold, wet pavement.
101.

While standing, Defendant Grams mocked Mr. Brown’s life experience. He asked

Mr. Brown, “I don’t know – you been to Mars? You been to Venus? You been to the moon?
Where – why – are you in school? What? Where you known at?”
102.

At 02:34:25 AM, Defendant Avila laughed with Defendant Samardzic, and

commented “Good job.”
103.

At 02:36:49 AM, after unlawfully placing Mr. Brown in custody, Defendants took

Mr. Brown in an ambulance from the Walgreens parking lot to St. Francis Hospital for
evaluation and treatment of his wounds.
104.

At 02:44:46 AM, Mr. Brown arrived at St. Francis Hospital with Defendants.

While there, he received treatment for his facial abrasions, and two puncture wounds in his midback.

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 C.

DEFENDANTS COLLABORATE TO CONCEAL THEIR ILLEGAL ARREST
AND USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAINST MR. BROWN.
105.

After Mr. Brown was taken in the ambulance, Defendants began to rehash the

series of events that preceded Mr. Brown’s take down and Defendant Samardzic’s deploying a
Taser into Mr. Brown’s back.
106.

At 02:49:13 AM, Defendant Krueger asked Defendant Collins, “did you have any

– uh – part in – uh – the decentralizing, or anything like that?”
107.

In response, Defendant Collins said “I think all of us did,” and then cackled with

laughter.
108.

Minutes later, Defendant Collins then returned to stand by the vehicle occupied

by Defendant Krueger and Defendant Mahnke.
109.

At that time, Defendant Krueger and Defendant Mahnke were reviewing the

night’s events. Defendant Collins asked “the bureau’s coming out for this?”

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 In response, at 03:11:51 AM, Defendant Krueger told Defendant Collins, “We’re

110.

trying to protect ourselves.”
Shortly thereafter, Defendant Mahnke, recognizing that the Defendants’ conduct

111.

would be exposed for being a racist unlawful attack, and sitting next to Defendant Krueger,
commented to Defendant Collins, “because he plays for the Bucks, if he makes a fucking
complaint, it’s going to be a fucking media firestorm. And then any little fucking thing that goes
wrong is going to be ‘ooh Milwaukee Police Department is all racist’ blah blah blah.”
112.

Defendant Collins then entered the vehicle with Defendant Krueger and

Defendant Mahnke.
113.

As he entered, Defendant Krueger and Mahnke were on a telephone call with

Defendant Grams. Defendants Mahnke and Krueger instructed Defendant Grams that the
incident should be described as: “state resisting/obstruct.”
While in the car, Defendant Collins then described Mr. Brown as “passive

114.
aggressive.”
115.

For nearly six minutes, Defendants Collins, Mahnke, and Krueger sat in the

vehicle together, synchronizing their stories concerning what took place in the parking lot.
116.

Immediately after getting their story straight, Defendant Mahnke joked to

Defendant Collins: “see you in the news!”
117.

At 03:11:51 AM, Defendant Collins laughed and replied, “can’t wait for it to go

to court!” Again, Defendant Collins cackled with laughter.
118.

Several defendants unlawfully searched Mr. Brown’s vehicle.

119.

Defendants repeatedly turned their BWVCs off and back on while Mr. Brown was

in custody.

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 120.

For example, while Mr. Brown was receiving medical treatment at St. Francis

Hospital, Defendant Grams answered a phone call, and then said “hold on a sec. Let me turn off
my camera.” Defendant Grams left his camera off for nearly five minutes.
121.

Also, when Defendants Grams, Samardzic, and Avila moved Mr. Brown into a

van to leave St. Francis Hospital, they decided together to shut off their BWVCs. As the doors to
the van closed, Defendant Grams stated to Defendant Samardzic and Avila: “You guys hot?”
Samardzic replied, “Pause the video.” Defendant Grams repeated, “Are you guys running hot?”
Samardzic replied “Hold on.” After this exchange, the BWVCs of both Defendants Grams and
Samardzic turned off.
122.

After concluding his medical treatment at 03:15:35 AM, Defendants transferred

Mr. Brown to the Milwaukee County Jail arriving at 03:22:17 AM. Mr. Brown remained there,
unlawfully in custody, until his release later that day.
123.

While at the Milwaukee County Jail, Defendant Mahnke questioned Mr. Brown

while he remained under arrest.
124.

As a law enforcement officer, Mahnke knew that he had a constitutional duty to

apprise Mr. Brown of his right against compulsory self-incrimination. At no time after his arrest
did Defendants ever provide the required Miranda warning to Mr. Brown.
125.

About the time Mr. Brown was being interrogated by Defendant Mahnke in the

Milwaukee County Jail, Defendant Collins was still in the Walgreens parking lot.
126.

While in the parking lot, Defendant Collins placed a telephone call and while on

the call, he referenced the need to go on overtime. Then, at 03:27:54 AM, Collins began singing:
“money money money money money money.”

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 127.

While still on the telephone, Defendant Collins stated that the Defendants were

fighting Mr. Brown, and that Defendant Samardzic tasered Mr. Brown. Defendant Collins then
made a noise that sounded like an electric shock, and began to cackle with laughter yet again.
128.

As evident on his BWVC, a few minutes following this telephone call, Defendant

Collins fell asleep on the job collecting taxpayer paid overtime pay for his involvement in the
unlawful arrest and abuse of Mr. Brown.
129.

Mr. Collins slept in his car between 03:38:30 AM and 03:50:35 AM, while Mr.

Brown remained in custody.
130.

After waking up, Defendant Collins proceeded to enter the Walgreens to retrieve

security camera footage. At about 04:01:05 AM, Defendant Collins told a Walgreens employee
that Mr. Brown “was a douchebag.”
131.

On information and belief, while Mr. Brown remained in police custody or shortly

after his release, Defendant Andrade took to facebook to mock and laugh at Mr. Brown:

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 132.

On Monday, May 21, 2018 Defendant Morales filed a complaint with the Board

of Fire and Police Commissioners of the City of Milwaukee against Defendant Mahnke. This
document is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated by reference.
133.

Defendant Morales’ Complaint constitutes an admission that Defendant Grams

should have issued a traffic citation and that Mr. Brown should have been free to go with citation
in hand. Mahnke was disciplined for not properly taking control of the situation.
134.

However, Defendant Morales’ complaint, in relevant part, either explicitly or

implicitly, adopts the fabricated version of events the other Defendants agreed to following their
unlawful conduct, including that:


Mr. Brown was part of a “verbal altercation” that required Defendant Grams to
call for backup.



Officers believed Mr. Brown was in possession of a firearm based upon
observation of shooting targets in the vehicle.



Mr. Brown was placed into custody after he refused to comply with a directive to
remove his hands from his pockets and became resistive towards officers.



Officers utilized force on Mr. Brown by decentralizing him to the ground and
eventually an Electronic Control Device was deployed to control him prior to his
arrest.

135.

However, the Morales complaint never mentions that the BWVC recordings

show, among others, that:


Mr. Brown was first shoved by Grams yet still fully cooperated with the MPD
officers.

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 

Defendants observed Mr. Brown for many minutes while his hands were in and
out of his pockets and that Mr. Brown was actually attempting to remove his
hands from his pockets after Defendants Krueger and Mahnke had initiated their
scheme to use excessive force against him;



Defendant Samardzic pulled out his pistol before Mr. Brown was taken to the
ground;



Defendant Grams jumped on Mr. Brown’s leg after he was shot in the back with a
Taser;



Defendant Samardzic shot Mr. Brown in the back with the Taser while both of his
arms were under the complete physical control of Defendants Krueger and Avila;



Defendants used thinly-veiled racist comments at the scene;



Defendant Collins repeatedly called Mr. Brown a douchebag;



Defendant Collins slept collecting overtime while Mr. Brown remained locked up
in jail;



Defendant Krueger admitted the Defendants: “we’re trying to protect ourselves.”

136.

On Wednesday, May 23, 2018, Defendant Morales addressed the media and

stated that: “The department conducted an investigation into the incident, which revealed
members acted inappropriately.”
137.

Shortly thereafter, Defendant Morales and/or the MPD publicly disclosed that at

least three Defendant officers received discipline from the MPD for their conduct, described
above. The discipline, included, but is not limited to:
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 

Defendant Mahnke:

15-day suspension, employee improvement plan



Defendant Krueger:

10-day suspension, employee improvement plan



Defendant Samardzic:

2-day suspension, employee improvement plan



Other involved officers are required to review the MPD policy on cooperating
with citizens to ensure public safety.

138.

Chief Morales’ investigation and disciplinary actions were not complete and

incompetent and/or constitute an attempted cover up of the Defendants’ unlawful conduct
because, to date but recognizing that the Fire and Police Commissioners have demanded an audit
and accounting from the Chief, no MPD officer has been disciplined for, among others:


Mr. Brown’s unlawful and race based arrest and detention.



The excessive use of force, including being kneed in the groin, injuring Mr.
Brown’s neck and face, being tased, being stamped on, having his ankle stepped
on for 2¾ minutes, being handcuffed, and forced to lay and sit on cold wet
pavement for 12 minutes.

139.

On information and belief, before the public announcement of the aforementioned

disciplinary procedures, Defendant Andrade had used his facebook account to share racist
memes, including one with a picture of NBA Superstar, Kevin Durant:

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 140.

On information and belief, Defendant Andrade also used his facebook account to

share a post from an account that alleged that the African Americans lie to the police. Defendant
Andrade said that this post was “truth.” The particular post included an image of Mr. Brown:

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 141.

On information and belief, Defendant Andrade also used his facebook account to

celebrate overtime pay accompanying the use of force:

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 142.

On information and belief, Defendant Andrade made comments via his facebook

account regarding innocent African Americans, police brutality, and mass incarceration:

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 143.

On information and belief, Defendant Andrade also used his facebook account to

publicly engage with others regarding Mr. Brown’s arrest, an arrest he unlawfully participated in
and presumably has been trained to not engage the public about such matters:

144.

On May 31, 2018, Earl Joseph “J.R.” Smith III, known widely as J.R. Smith,

played for the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Nearing the end of regulation,
Mr. Smith rebounded a missed free throw while the game was tied, and let the clock run out to
force overtime. The Cavaliers lost in overtime.
145.

On information and belief, after Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Defendant Andrade

once again took to Facebook to explain that he believed Mr. Smith deserved to be punished for
this performance:

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 146.

Defendant Andrade’s post is an admission that he and other Defendant officers

are allowed to engage in unlawful attacks and arrests of African Americans without justification
and then relish such events without any fear of real discipline.
147.

Upon information and belief, the public announcement by Defendants Milwaukee

and Morales of the discipline of the defendants in this action predate this facebook post by
Defendant Andrade.
148.

Defendant Andrade’s facebook posts are admissions that Defendant officers and

other MPD officers exacerbate parking tickets, unjustly stop and arrest, and use unlawful force
against African Americans in Milwaukee without fear of real discipline.
149.

Thus, regardless of any disciplinary response to date, Defendant officers,

including Defendant Andrade, remain uninhibited to engage in the type of unjust violence and
deprivation of Constitutional rights that Mr. Brown was forced to suffer on January 26, 2018.
150.

As a result of the unlawful conduct by the Defendants as set forth herein, Sterling

D. Brown feared for his life, sustained severe physical and emotional injuries and suffered other

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 losses and damages, including severe pain, emotional distress, medical expenses, and other
compensable injuries and damages, in an amount to be determined at a trial of this matter.
151.

The conduct, as alleged above and below, of Defendants, and against Mr. Brown,

took place in substantial part because Mr. Brown is African American.
V. FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF AGAINST DEFENDANTS – VIOLATION OF THE
EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE OF THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT
152.

Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations of all the

preceding paragraphs.
153.

At all relevant times herein, the above-named Defendants, were “persons” for

purposes of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and acted under color of state law to deprive Mr. Brown of his
constitutional rights.
154.

The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment provides that no state

shall “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
155.

Defendants violated Mr. Brown’s right to equal protection of the laws under the

Fourteenth Amendment, by unlawfully discriminating against Mr. Brown on the basis of his race
when they, among other things, instead of issuing a parking citation, they stopped and questioned
Mr. Brown for an extended period of time about an alleged parking violation, and then utilized
unlawful and excessive force against Mr. Brown as they arrested Mr. Brown and further
unlawfully detained him.
156.

Defendants violated Mr. Brown’s right to equal protection of the laws under the

Fourteenth Amendment through omission as well. Each Defendant officer on the scene had a
duty to intervene on behalf of Mr. Brown, whose constitutional rights were being violated in the
presence of the Defendant officers, by others acting under color of state law.

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 157.

The Defendant Officers each failed to intervene or take any other reasonable steps

to prevent the deprivation of Mr. Brown’s rights by fellow MPD officers.
158.

Based upon the racially-motivated comments made by Defendants at the scene as

well as their conduct, such conduct was motivated by an unlawful discriminatory purpose.
159.

Their unlawful conduct achieved a discriminatory effect against Mr. Brown.

160.

At all times material, the individual Defendants were acting under color of the

statutes, customs, ordinances, and usage of the Milwaukee and MPD and were acting in the
scope of their employment.
161.

That the described conduct of the part of the Defendants as set forth above was a

cause of the plaintiff’s injuries, losses, and damages as set forth herein.
162.

The Defendant, Milwaukee, is liable pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 895.46 for payment

of any judgment entered against the individual employee Defendants in this action because said
Defendants were acting within the scope of their employment when they committed the acts
described above.
VI. SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF AGAINST DEFENDANTS GRAMS, KRUEGER,
MAHNKE, SAMARDZIC, AVILA, AND COLLINS – EXCESSIVE FORCE
163.

Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations of all the

preceding paragraphs.
164.

At all relevant times herein, the above-named Defendants were “persons” for

purposes of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and acted under color of state law to deprive Mr. Brown of his
constitutional rights.
165.

At all times material hereto, the Defendants used unnecessary, excessive force,

including but not limited to, grabbing, tackling, injuring his neck and face, kneeling him in the

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 groin, deploying the taser to Mr. Brown’s back while he was subdued on the ground, stomping
on him and standing on his ankle.
166.

That at the time the Defendants used excessive force there was no threat of death

or serious bodily harm to the officers or anyone in the area.
167.

That the Defendants’ conduct constituted excessive force without cause or

justification in violation of Mr. Brown’s Fourth Amendment Rights as incorporated by the
Fourteenth Amendment and/or his equal protection rights guaranteed by that same Amendment.
168.

At all times material, the Defendants were MPD Officers acting under color of the

statutes, customs, ordinances, and usage of the Milwaukee and MPD and were acting in the
scope of their employment.
169.

That the described conduct of the part of the Defendants as set forth above was a

cause of the plaintiff’s injuries, losses, and damages as set forth herein.
170.

The Defendant, Milwaukee, is liable pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 895.46 for payment

of any judgment entered against the individual employee Defendants in this action because said
Defendants were acting within the scope of their employment when they committed the acts
described above.
VII. THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF AGAINST DEFENDANTS GRAMS, KRUEGER,
MAHNKE, SAMARDZIC, AVILA, COLLINS, ANDRADE, AND JENSEN –
UNLAWFUL ARREST
171.

Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations of all the

preceding paragraphs.
172.

At all relevant times herein, the above-named Defendants were “persons” for

purposes of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and acted under color of state law to deprive Mr. Brown of his
constitutional rights.

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 173.

Defendants arrested Mr. Brown.

174.

Defendants did not have probable cause to arrest Mr. Brown because at no time

could Mr. Brown’s actions have lead any of the Defendants to reasonably believe that probable
cause existed that Mr. Brown committed a crime.
That the Defendants’ conduct constituted a false arrest or unreasonable seizure

175.

and search of his vehicle in violation of Mr. Brown’s Fourth Amendment Rights as incorporated
by the Fourteenth Amendment and/or his equal protection rights guaranteed by that same
Amendment.
176.

At all times material, the Defendants were MPD Officers acting under color of the

statutes, customs, ordinances, and usage of the Milwaukee and MPD and were acting in the
scope of their employment.
177.

That the described conduct of the part of the Defendants as set forth above was a

cause of the plaintiff’s injuries, losses, and damages as set forth herein.
178.

The Defendant, Milwaukee, is liable pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 895.46 for payment

of any judgment entered against the individual employee Defendants in this action because said
Defendants were acting within the scope of their employment when they committed the acts
described above.
VIII. FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF – SECTION 1983 FAILURE TO INTERVENE
179.

Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations of all the

preceding paragraphs.
180.

By the time Defendants Grams, Krueger, Mahnke, Samardzic, Avila, Collins,

Andrade, and Jensen all arrived on the scene, Mr. Brown had committed no crime and there was

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 no reason to suspect that he was about to commit a crime, or in the process of committing any
crime. At most, a parking citation would have ended the matter.
181.

Before Mr. Brown suffered from the unlawful abuse and excessive use of force

described above, the individual Defendants individually and collectively, had many opportunities
to intervene and prevent all the injuries and losses Mr. Brown suffered as a result of the unlawful
conduct and excessive use of force.
182.

Before Mr. Brown suffered from an arrest without probable cause, as described

above, the individual Defendants had many opportunities to intervene and prevent the injuries
Mr. Brown suffered as a result of the unlawful arrest without probable cause.
183.

At the moment Mr. Brown was ordered to be tased while already incapacitated, as

described more fully above, some of the Defendant Officers including Samardzic himself could
have intervened to prevent any of Mr. Brown’s injuries and constitutional deprivations.
184.

The unlawful misconduct described in this claim was also undertaken pursuant to

the defacto policy and practice of the City of Milwaukee as described below.
185.

As a result of the individual Defendant Officers’ failure to intervene, and the

Milwaukee and MPD policies and practices, written or otherwise, Mr. Brown suffered injuries,
losses and damages as set forth herein.
186.

The Defendant Milwaukee is liable pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 895.46 for payment of

any judgment entered against the individual employee Defendants in this action because said
Defendants were acting within the scope of their employment when they committed the acts
described above.
IX. FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF – MONELL CLAIM

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 187.

Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations in the preceding

paragraphs.
188.

The acts of the individual Defendants, including unlawfully arresting and tasing

Mr. Brown without any justification, was done in accordance with the Milwaukee and its Police
Department’s de-facto policy, regulation, decision or custom condoning excessive force in
executing arrests, false arrests, and/or otherwise violating person’s equal protection rights,
including by the City’s or in this case to date, Defendant Morales’, failure to adequately
discipline the Defendant officers for such violations. That these respective de-facto policies
were officially adopted, expressly or implicitly, or promulgated or practiced or ratified by the
Milwaukee, through its Chief of Police Morales, and as such constitute a de-facto governmental
custom in such department, even though such custom may not have received written formal
approval by the City, and even though such de-facto policies are inconsistent with or even violate
MPD’s written policies.
189.

This official or de facto policy or custom of utilizing excessive force and/or

violating person’s equal protection rights permitted, encouraged, tolerated and ratified the
actions of Defendants Grams, Mahnke, Krueger, Samardzic, Avila, Collins, Andrade, and Jensen
all in malicious or reckless disregard or with deliberate indifference to Mr. Brown’s Fourth and
Fourteenth Amendment Rights by, among others, the Defendant Chief’s failure to adequately
discipline the officers for their unlawful conduct and not just for failing to supervise the situation
as in the Mahnke discipline.
190.

That this official or de-facto policy and custom of utilizing excessive force and/or

violating person’s equal protection rights arose and/or was allowed to continue as a result of,
among others, the Milwaukee and the MPD’s failure to adequately supervise, discipline, and/or

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 train its employees. Upon information and belief, some or all of the individual Defendants and
other MPD officers had previously used Tasers in an unjustified and excessive manner, or had
executed arrests against individuals in an unjustified manner, without being adequately
disciplined and/or properly trained.
191.

That the described conduct on the part of all the Defendants, including Milwaukee

Chief of Police Morales, in his official capacity, was a cause of the plaintiff’s injuries, losses and
damages as set forth herein.
192.

The Defendant Milwaukee is liable pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 895.46 for payment of

any judgment entered against the individual employee Defendants in this action because said
Defendants were acting within the scope of their employment when they committed the acts
described above.
X. SEVENTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
193.

Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference all the allegations in the

preceding paragraphs.
194.

That the above-described conduct of all the individual Defendants was unlawful,

extreme, malicious, outrageous and/or intentional.
195.

That such conduct was intended to cause Mr. Brown unnecessary and severe

personal physical and psychological and emotional injuries.
196.

That such conduct on the part of all the individual Defendants was a cause of the

severe personal injuries, physical and psychological and emotional, suffered by Mr. Brown.
197.

At all times material hereto, the individual Defendants acted maliciously and/or

with reckless disregard and/or with deliberate indifference towards Mr. Brown or in an

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 intentional disregard of his rights, such as to subject all the individual Defendants to punitive
damages.
198.

The Defendant Milwaukee is liable pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 895.46 for payment of

any judgment entered against this individual employee Defendant in this action because said
Defendant was acting within the scope of his employment when he committed the acts described
above.
WHEREFORE, the Plaintiff demands judgment against the Defendants, jointly and
severally, as follows:
a.

Against Defendants Grams, Mahnke, Krueger, Avila, Samardzic, Collins,

Andrade, and Jensen in their individual capacities, for compensatory damages, for the violation of
Mr. Brown's rights, as set forth above, in an amount to be determined at a trial of this matter;
b.

Against Defendant Chief Alfonso Morales, in his official capacity, for

compensatory damages for the violation of Mr. Brown's rights, as set forth above, in an amount to
be determined at a trial of this matter;
c.

Against Defendant Officer Joseph J. Grams for punitive damages for the violation

of Mr. Brown's rights, as set forth above, in an amount to be determined at a trial of this matter;
d.

Against Defendant Sergeant Sean A. Mahnke for punitive damages for the

violation of Mr. Brown's rights, as set forth above, in an amount to be determined at a trial of this
matter;
e.

Against Defendant Sergeant Jeffrey S. Krueger for punitive damages for the

violation of Mr. Brown's rights, as set forth above, in an amount to be determined at a trial of this
matter;

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 f.

Against Defendant Officer Bojan Samardzic for punitive damages for the

violation of Mr. Brown's rights, as set forth above, in an amount to be determined at a trial of this
matter;
g.

Against Defendant Officer Cristobal Martinez Avila for punitive damages for the

violation of Mr. Brown's rights, as set forth above, in an amount to be determined at a trial of this
matter;
h.

Against Defendant Officer James P. Collins for punitive damages for the violation

of Mr. Brown's rights, as set forth above, in an amount to be determined at a trial of this matter;
i.

Against Defendant Officer Erik A. Andrade for punitive damages for the violation

of Mr. Brown’s right, as set forth above, in an amount to be determined at a trial of this matter;
j.

Against Defendant Officer Jason P. Jensen, for punitive damages for the violation

of Mr. Brown’s rights, as set forth above, in an amount to be determined at a trial of this matter;
k.

Against Defendant City of Milwaukee for its liability pursuant to Wis. Stat. §

895.46 to indemnify the individual Defendants in an amount to be determined at a trial of this
matter;
l.

For all costs, disbursements and actual attorneys' fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C.A. §

1988, and for such other relief as the Court deems just and equitable.
PLAINTIFF HEREBY DEMANDS A JURY TRIAL OF THIS MATTER ON ALL
ISSUES SO TRIABLE.

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 Dated this 19th day of June, 2018.
Respectfully Submitted:
GINGRAS, CATES & WACHS, LLP
s/ Mark L. Thomsen
Mark L. Thomsen
State Bar No.: 1018839
Scott B. Thompson
State Bar No.: 1098161
3228 Turnberry Oak Drive, Suite 210
Waukesha, WI 53188
Telephone:
(414) 935-5482
Email: mthomsen@gcwlawyers.com

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