Thabo Sefolosha Sues NYPD over 2015 Arrest: Latest Comments, Reaction

Atlanta Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha filed a civil lawsuit against five New York Police Department officers and the city Wednesday in relation to an incident outside a Manhattan nightclub last year.

According to ESPN.com's Kevin Arnovitz, the suit alleges "false arrest, excessive force, malicious prosecution and false imprisonment." Sefolosha is seeking as much as $50 million in damages after suffering a broken fibula and ligament damage during the arrest.

Both Sefolosha and former Hawks teammate Pero Antic were arrested during the incident, and Antic has filed a civil suit of his own against the NYPD, per Arnovitz.

Sefolosha was ultimately found not guilty of misdemeanor obstructing government administration, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Due to the injuries Sefolosha suffered, however, he missed the Hawks' entire run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

Sefolosha spoke about the incident to Nathaniel Penn of GQ in October 2015:

"

It was an act of police brutality, and I believe it could happen to anyone. Now I'm a lot more aware of everything that goes on. I've been, I don't want to say disillusioned, but brought back to earth in a harsh way. I look at videos of police brutality on YouTube or CNN.com. The other day I was watching this woman getting punched by the police for recording them arresting her husband. In a situation like this, you are helpless. If there's six people jumping me outside of the club, I scream, "Police, police!" If the police are doing this to me, who you want me to turn to?

"

The 31-year-old native of Switzerland has bounced back in 2015-16 to average 6.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in 71 contests for a Hawks team that could potentially make another deep run.

It isn't yet known when the case will be heard, but Sefolosha's focus right now is likely on winning a championship before it shifts to potentially scoring a victory in the courtroom.

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