Tiburon officials have released body-camera footage from the first officer at the scene of a late-night confrontation between police and Black business owner Yema Khalif, who asserts he was racially profiled when questioned at his downtown shop. Michael Blasi was the supervising officer on Aug.. The county settled a lawsuit by Grimes family for nearly $1 million. It was saddening to see that there wasnt any recognition from the police involved that this was a situation where they made a mistake.. The officers repeatedly asserted, however, that Khalif was required to show identification, but California does not have a stop-and-identify statue. Is it your store that's all we want to know? Mayor Alice Fredericks issued an apology on Saturday and went in person to talk to the store owners on Monday. It does not matter. Two Tiburon police officials, Sergeant Michael Blasi and Police Chief Michael Cronin resigned September 1 and 13 following allegations of officers racially profiling a Black store owner in Tiburon. We do not need to prove to police that we deserve to be at our clothing store way past business hours.. Critics of Khalif say he was argumentative and antagonizing the officers from the start, and that he could have just showed his ID and quickly ended the incident. Second Lt. Caron Nazario, who is Black and Latino, is suing over the incident, claiming the two officers violated his rights guaranteed under the First and Fourth Amendments. First hired by the Belvedere Police Department in 2017, Blasi is considered a supervisor in Tiburon, where he earns an annual salary of $99,888 with a $20,324 benefits package. Blasi was one of four sheriffs deputies involved in a wrongful death lawsuit after Cary Grime was arrested in 2003 for public intoxication in Novato. While Tiburon Police Chief Michael Cronin and Town Manager Greg Chanis have ordered an independent investigation into the incident, the results of which will be reviewed by the Town Council, Cronin said neither Blasi nor the two other officers involved would be suspended or put on administrative leave amid the investigation. The video circulating on social media was recorded on Khalifs friends cellphone from inside the store and was posted to Yemas Instagram account, where it has been viewed nearly 45,000 times, and to its Facebook page, where it has been shared nearly 1,000 times, each garnering hundreds of comments. At one point, 465 members of the public were virtually attending the forum and, in addition to the speakers, we received 79 items of written correspondence.. The Tiburon Police Department was established in 1972 following the town's incorporation by eight years. D, Tiburon, CA 94920 | 415-435-2652 | Privacy Policy| Designed by Kevin Hessel. I, kindly, explained that we didnt have to prove anything and asked for a supervisor. I expressed to him that there was no crime going on and we were going about our business. The situation started getting out of hand so our friend from DC started recording the exchange (Video below). Henry Ty McGowan, Detective Seneca Shields and. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? Im not going to answer your question. How can policing be done better? The confrontation led to a rally in Tiburon on Aug. 29 against racial profiling. Blasi begins asking the same questions as the first officer, including what the three were doing there late at night. Chanis said neither Cronin nor Blasi are able to comment due to the pending investigation. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Tracking the drought: Map shows conditions across SF Bay Area, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7, Tiburon police demand Black business owner prove who he is, Man fired after blocking Latino man from entering his own apartment building in SF, Find resources to help with equality, justice and race issues. Laurie is responsible for disaster preparedness, maintenance of the Emergency Operations Center and coordination of a wide range of related activities. The incident revolves around the officers assertions that because most Main Street businesses shut down about 9 or 10 p.m., and theyd never seen workers inside the shop at 1 a.m., Khalif was required to explain to the officers why they were inside and provide some physical evidence identification or a key in the door that he is the owner. Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do. "My pictures are plastered all over the store, huge pictures," says Khalif. Were here because we love Tiburon, and we know that Tiburon loves us back, Awash said. How safe is your neighborhood? In addition to normal police activities, the police station also houses the Emergency Operations Center, which is equipped to manage disaster response for Tiburon and Belvedere. Khalif said he was wearing the same outfit as the mannequin he was standing next to while talking to police from the doorway. He doesn't believe that would have happened if he was white. Meanwhile, Awash estimated she has been stopped in her car three to five times over the past year and a half by the same police officer. First published on September 8, 2020 / 7:45 PM. All Rights Reserved. Michael Blasi, resigned in the aftermath. Then he insisted that he wanted us to prove who we are and to explain what we were doing at the store that late. Mayor Alice Fredericks on Aug. 22 sent out an email to the community apologizing to Khalif and Awash. Awash characterized the conversation as positive. Tiburon, CA - A Tiburon police sergeant fatally shot himself inside the police department headquarters while on duty on Monday, according to authorities. OK, thats fine. The people in the store included co-owners Yema Khalif and Hawai Awash, the only Black store owners in town. The Tiburon Police Department has 12 sworn officers and four other employees, plus volunteer and reserve officers. This isnt regular business hours, theres no customers in here. They opened the athletic apparel boutique in February. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) A sixth Memphis officer was fired . Kevin Hessel is The Arks executive editor. Khalif believes the best way Marin residents can express their solidarity is by not being bystanders to racist acts. After it was over I was shaking, Awash said. Khalif continually declines to do so, stating numerous times that he owns the business and asks, Whats the problem? On Aug. 21 at about 1 a.m., police officers confronted the couple, who were inside their shop. I have been stopped for taking a walk to my house. She stressed the importance to use the incident as a learning step.. ", In the video you can hear the supervisor say, "You should be grateful that we're being as diligent as we are to look out for the street, that's all we do.". Khalif said when it became clear the officer wasnt understanding him, he asked the officer to call his supervisor. We welcome and encourage your thoughts and comments. Khalif said he was entitled to be in the store, had no obligation to identify himself and accused police of being suspicious because the store occupants were Black. In a later interview, Simpson said he was concerned by the way the three officers were surrounding Khalif. Monaghan has taught administration of justice at the San Mateo Community College District. Blasi joined the Tiburon Police Department in June 2019. Cronin denies his departure is linked to the incident. Last night we had a not so good exchange with Tiburon police at our place of work. Is it your store? The town announced Blasis resignation on Tuesday. Reporter Hannah Weikel covers the city of Belvedere, as well as crime, courts and public safety issues on the Tiburon Peninsula. The remaining footage is the body-camera perspective of the exchange previously recorded from inside the store and circulated on social media. "He has fostered partnerships, communication, and trust within our community, and his philosophy toward successful law enforcement practices has substantially moved our department forward.". In 2004, Blasi was one of the deputies involved in a wrongful death lawsuit after a 47-year-old man named Cary Grime was arrested and hogtied in Novato. Sgt. TIBURON, Calif. (KGO) -- A Black business owner is speaking out after Tiburon police demanded proof he was the store's owner. I want to know what you're doing in the store at 1 o'clock in the morning.". Do you want us to look out for the community or do you want us to let anybody walk in here at 2 oclock in the morning and steal all your stuff? Blasi is heard saying on the video. Assistant Editor Emily Lavin contributed to this report. Should you desire additional information that doesnt appear on the site, please contact us directly at 415-789-2801 or by using the department directory. And he wanted us to prove who we are. Named among the state's & nation's best small weeklies, 2014, 2018-2021 California News Publishers Association &, Tiburon releases body-cam footage of police questioning Black merchant, About 6 minutes of cellphone footage of the encounter with the supervisor, Tiburon police Sgt. I confirmed that I am the business owner, but they wanted me to prove it. Tiburon Town Hall | 1505 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon, CA 94920 | Phone: 415-435-7373. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Sgt. Their pictures are even on the store's walls. Khalif refused. Body cam and cell phone footage shows the altercation as it unfolds. Noah Griffin, a member of the towns Diversity Inclusion Task Force, said he was one of two African American members of the community panel that interviewed the finalists. On August 21, a recording of three officers, including Blasi, went viral on Instagram where they can be heard questioning Yema Khalif, the owner of YEMA, which is the only Black-owned clothing store in Tiburon. Critics also note the officers finally left without the proof they said was required for 11 minutes only when a white Main Street resident who overheard the confrontation shouted, Thats his store.. A video showing three Tiburon Peninsula police officers repeatedly questioning the identity of a Black business owner working in his Fountain Plaza clothing store about 1 a.m. Aug. 21 has sparked widespread outrage within the community and prompted town officials to order an independent investigation into the conduct of two of the officers. Ive not been feeling the reality of it. But this goes to show that when people come together good things can happen.. The Black owners of a business in Tiburon have settled a racial profiling claim with the town for $150,000 and the establishment of a police advisory council. To be fair, some more than others.. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Police Chief Michael Cronin said the town has engaged the services of an independent attorney to conduct an investigation into the incident. In an Aug. 24 interview, Awash had said the officers tone was aggressive and suspicious and that he didnt identify himself or ask if they were working late. A statement agreed upon by all of the parties to the lawsuit said that investigations by the San Rafael Police Department and the FBI concluded that there was no criminal conduct and no criminal violation of Grimes civil rights by the sheriffs office. The pension benefit was split because of a divorce. NBCBLK 5 officers fired after Tyre Nichols' death were 'directly responsible' for his 'physical abuse,' police chief says Other officers remain under investigation in connection with a. Several months later, the store was named Tiburons Business of the Month. Awash noted they had been in the shop until about 2 or 3 a.m. the day before. At the conclusion of the investigation, the findings will be presented to her and the rest of the Tiburon Town Council. "Just because you've never seen me here before I do not have to prove to you that I have to be here," said Khalif in the video. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. Proceeds from clothing sales help send orphans go to school. Ryan Monaghan, who has worked at the San Mateo department for 27 years, will start the new job on April 5. Both Khalif and Awash said they noticed a Tiburon police car driving slowly by their storefront while they were working inside with their friend about 1 a.m. Aug. 21. I dont have to show anything to you, Khalif can be heard saying. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? While K-9 officer Larry Holladay, Patrol Officer Patrick. According to Khalif, the officer sat in his parked vehicle for about 20 minutes before approaching Khalif, asking him to identify himself, explain why they were inside the store, and informing them that backup was on the way. @shaunking @beyonce @chakabars @lauraharrier @buzzfeed @nowthisnews @aljazeeraenglish @cnn @bbcnews @latimes @nytimes @wsj @ava @shondarhimes @kuz @kingjames @oprah @voguemagazine @essence @adutakech @tiffanyhaddish, A post shared by YEMA (@yemacalif) on Aug 21, 2020 at 3:33pm PDT. The incident was recorded by Yema Khalifs wife and business partner Hawi Awash from inside their clothing store Yema on Main Street around 1 a.m. Friday. Grime died in a hospital two days later. Laurie can be reached at (415)789-2805. In another post, Blasi is asked what kind of behavior can get someone in trouble with the police, to which he responded, resisting a detention or arrest and failing to identify yourself or providing ID when directed by an officer., He also says he wouldnt recommend anyone become a police officer in todays environment, citing media and social-media scrutiny, internet armchair quarterbacks evaluating every real-time decision (and) unqualified and incompetent civilian-oversight committees that are usually someones bulls political agenda.. It was unclear why late Aug. 26 Tiburon released the extended video, in which the previously unidentified Tiburon patrol officer, Isaac Madfes, speaks his first name aloud. TIBURON, Calif. - A Tiburon couple who own a clothing store is accusing police of racially profiling them. Again, Khalif says hell speak to the supervisor, but Madfes insists Khalif is required to give me a lawful reason why youre here.. 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