After a nearly two-year investigation, the city of Robbinsdale has settled a lawsuit involving one of its police officers. The out-of-court settlement will pay former Gopher basketball player and Robbinsdale resident Melvin Newbern $185,000.

Dash-cam video from a Robbinsdale police squad car captured the Feb. 13, 2013 arrest. Newbern was on Victory Memorial Parkway when he was pulled over for suspected drunken driving.

Newbern's attorney, Andrew Noel, said "According to the evidence that we saw, there wasn't any suspicious driving conduct."

Sgt. Brian Sloat made the arrest. According to the police report, Sloat said Newbern refused to cooperate and get in the squad. On the videotape you can see Newbern struggling to get his 6'5" frame into the back of the squad.

"Mr. Newbern wasn't acting aggressively, he wasn't talking confrontationally," said Noel.

Sloat admitted to "kneeing" Newbern several times and bringing him to the ground.

"There was no excuse for that use of force especially on someone whose handcuffed behind their back," said Noel.

Newbern filed a lawsuit saying Sloat went overboard and used excessive force. Both sides reached an out-of-court settlement Jan. 9.

"I can't get inside officer Sloat's head, but from a reasonable spectator it appears that it definitely could have been racially motivated," said Noel.

Sloat's attorney, Jason Hively, released the following statement to 12 News:

"After a comprehensive analysis, we believe officer Sloat acted in a reasonable manner, but we recognize the cost of defending this case through trial would be very high," the statement said.

Newbern's attorney says he's pleased with the settlement and now wants to get to enjoying his life.

"He was pleased with the result and he's happy that he can move on, keep working and just get back, going to his kids athletic events, coaching, and things like that," said Noel.

Sloat was an officer at the time of the arrest. Since that time he was promoted to sergeant. Newbern's attorney says there was never any intention to get Sloat fired.

The settlement money will be paid by the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust.

Sonya Goins, reporting
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Channel 12 is on Comcast cable in the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis and includes the cities Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.

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