Former Atlanta Hawks center Pero Antic has filed a civil suit against the New York Police Department stemming from an incident last April, with Hawks swingman Thabo Sefolosha reportedly to follow.
According to ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz, Antic filed claims of false arrest, unlawful imprisonment, assault, battery, negligence, civil rights violations and malicious prosecution. Sefolosha is expected to claim unlawful force, unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution.
“The NYPD has all but conceded that they falsely and improperly arrested Pero Antic,” Antic’s attorney Alex Spiro said. “They will now be held responsible.”
The suits stem from an incident in April of 2015 when officers accused the pair of interfering with a crime scene on the same night that Chris Copeland was stabbed. Both were charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing governmental administration, and Sefolosha, who was also charged with resisting arrest, suffered a broken leg during the arrest, costing him the entirety of the 2015 playoffs. Antic saw his charges dropped, while Sefolosha was acquitted by a jury.
