I dont have to show anything to you, Khalif can be heard saying. The first officer stayed behind briefly and again asked Khalif to put his key in the door, though Khalif again declined, saying the matter was settled. The newly released body-cam footage appears to highlight this further, with clearer audio than the cellphone footage that also shows a stark contrast between Blasis demeanor and that of Madfes, who speaks calmly throughout the first half of the video while Blasi then frequently shouts over Khalif and tells him he should be grateful. Other business owners have come forward to say that on the rare occasions they work late into the night, they've never been stopped and questioned at all, while Khalif was not only interrogated, Madfes had already called for backup before he first knocked on the door. TIBURON, Calif. (KGO) -- A Black business owner is speaking out after Tiburon police demanded proof he was the store's owner. FYI, we didnt realize that when he was circling the block he was calling for back up. Supervisor and another cop - who had his hand on his gun, by the way, showed up almost immediately. Awash characterized the conversation as positive. The pension benefit was split because of a divorce. Thank you, see ya, Blasi says as he turns and walks away toward Fountain Plaza. Cronin faced backlash in June following a press release that warned residents of Sausalito and Tiburon that they might be targets of unrest caused by a Marin City demonstration in protest of the murder of George Floyd, which remained peaceful. Scott Adams faces 'consequence culture' as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says. Fredericks said Cronin is planning a department-wide racial-bias training for late next month, which has been in the works since the George Floyd killing in Minneapolis in May, which led to widespread protests and mounting calls to end racial injustice and police brutality. The officers immediately left the store. Khalif refused. Monaghans starting annual salary is $195,000, which is 3% less than Cronins salary, Chanis said. The incident, early last Friday morning, is now the subject of an independent . 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, Man fired after blocking Latino man from entering his own apartment building in SF, Find resources to help with equality, justice and race issues, Santa Clara University professor, her brother racially profiled by campus guards, Berkeley mom films confrontation with white man who ripped down Black Lives Matter signs. I want to know what you're doing in the store at 1 o'clock in the morning.". At the conclusion of the investigation the report will be provided to the Town Manager for review and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the investigator.". TIBURON (KPIX/CBS SF) -- The police chief of the City of Tiburon is stepping down , according to a report in the Marin Independent Journal. DeSantis coming to CA as new poll shows him leading Trump, Ice flies off SUV, smashing windshield: 'You could kill somebody'. During hours when the department is closed, visitors can be directly connected to our dispatch center via a phone outside our front entrance. Video @sherlavars pic.twitter.com/WH5S9Sktxu. In August 2020, Yema Khalif and his wife Hawi Awash both Black were in their store in Tiburon when white police officers approached them demanding that the couple show proof that they owned the store. Khalif was also a speaker at the 2018 Belvedere-Tiburon Librarys Pop-Up 94920 series. Blasi offered, and the town has accepted, his voluntary resignation." Ste. Michael Blasi resigned after the release of police body-cam video showed Blasi and other officers questioning whether Yema Khalif and his wife Hawi Awash had a right to be in their own downtown store after hours. D, Tiburon, CA 94920 | 415-435-2652 | Privacy Policy| Designed by Kevin Hessel. A Tiburon police spokesperson tells ABC7 News the town has hired an outside, independent attorney to conduct an investigation. If you have a problem, you tell me . This incident should alarm every resident in Tiburon, wrote Wolf. Thank you sir, thats all I needed to know. Theyre the ones with the guns, theyre the ones with the badge, theyre the ones with the authority, she said. In a year marked by the killings of Black people at the hands of law enforcement, leading to protests nationwide calling for police reform, the conduct of the Tiburon officers is particularly tone . While the interaction with the first officer at the scene, who has not been identified, was not recorded, Khalif said the officer walked up to the door and immediately demanded to know what they were doing in the store at night. 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. Madfes says there isnt, but that hes never seen anyone in the store so late. 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. Ste. Police officers in a California town have been accused of racial profiling after confronting a Black business owner who . The county settled with Grimes family for nearly $1 million. I think right now everybody should get involved just because, whats going on in the country; the climate and everything. In a later interview, Awash pointed out that there are large posters on the stores walls of both she and Khalif modeling their clothing. ", Others responded with different views, saying that officers were just doing their job. Belvedere City Manager Craig Middleton said one of the officers who was acting in a backup role is employed with Belvedere Police Department. The finalists were interviewed in person at Town Hall on Jan. 26 by Scardina, Public Works Director Steve Palmer, Community Development Director Dina Tasini and Administrative Services Director Suzanne Creekmore. Khalif started the brand with his wife when they were in college. The next time I come here and there are three totally different people in here I dont care what color they are three people in your store at 3 oclock in the morning, do you want us to walk by and not do anything? Blasi said. How can policing be done better? I want to know what you're doing in the store at 1 o'clock in the morning," says the supervisor. CNN Pittsburgh has moved to fire five police officers after an internal investigation into the October death of a man involved in the suspected theft of a bicycle, officials said Wednesday. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. The off-camera speaker presumably makes reference to the June 2020 fatal police shooting of 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks, who was shot after allegedly grabbing a police officer's Taser, following a . It was a nearby business owner who yelled to officers that Khalif owned the business, which diffused the situation. Based on this belief, Sgt. Khalif: "If I tell you it's my store then what? "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. In the post. Lewis Powell, Sgt. What is it that theyre fearing?. 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. The confrontation led to a rally in Tiburon on Aug. 29 against racial profiling. Body cam and cell phone footage shows the altercation as it unfolds. , and a business friend, all of whom are Black, were at their store late at night counting inventory, according to a post on YEMAs Instagram account. After a few minutes, Blasi and another officer arrived, which is when the interaction starts being recorded. The Police Department and Emergency Operations Center are also responsible for developing and maintaining the Emergency Operations Plan for the entire Tiburon Peninsula. The heated exchange, which began shortly after 1 a.m. Aug. 21, was partially recorded from inside the store by Khalifs friend while his partner and store co-founder, Hawi Awash, stood back from the door. Tiburon Town Manager Greg Chanis announced the resignation in a newsletter saying [Sgt. 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. Community members pointed out Cronin had only issued a warning for the protest in Marin City, which is 61 percent non-white, including 38 percent Black, and had issued no such warnings for similar peaceful protests in other nearby predominantly white communities, including Mill Valley. He's hoping the recorded interaction will inspire a different conversation. Comment at the meeting, or in advance by emailing comments@townoftiburon.org. I cannot lie and say Im OK. Im traumatized and my wife is traumatized.. Awash noted they had been in the shop until about 2 or 3 a.m. the day before. About 6 minutes of cellphone footage of the encounter with the supervisor, Tiburon police Sgt. A 6-minute video of the incident was posted to Instagram and Facebook by Yema Khalif, the co-owner of the action fashion wear boutique Yema at 10 Main St. Yema Khalif, the only Black store owner in Tiburon, speaks out in front of the police dept. Awash said both she and Khalif have been heartened by the support from the Tiburon community, with both reiterating they feel lucky to live in town. That's all we want to know. The shop owners filed a $2 million claim against the town. Fredericks said Cronin is planning a department-wide racial-bias training for late next month, which has been in the works since the George Floyd killing in Minneapolis in May, which led to widespread protests and mounting calls to end racial injustice and police brutality. "He demands to know what we are doing at the store at 1 o'clock in the morning and he wants me to prove who I am," said Khalif in an interview with ABC7 News. At the 10-minute mark, Madfes chimes in again: Prove to us you have keys or , There you go, thats the perfect thing, Blasi says as Khalif removes something from his pocket. Emergency Operations Center Blasi made $10,122 a month. At no point during the 11-minute exchange did either Tiburon officer assert any potential criminal or suspicious activity was occurring beyond their mere presence in the building at that hour. In 1999 the department moved into its current location at 1155 Tiburon Blvd. The settlement was announced. That report led to 72 Philadelphia officers placed on administrative duty, of whom 13 were fired. Nielsen met Khalif on a movie set and later helped him move to California, where he attended Dominican University of California in San Rafael, made the deans list all four years, was his class valedictorian in 2015 and was offered a full scholarship into its MBA program, where he eventually obtained his masters. It was organized by Marin City Matters a social activist group created in response to police Chief Michael Cronins warning to residents on June 2 that Sausalito and Tiburon might be targets for unrest linked to a Marin City demonstration over the death of George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis. Last night we had a not so good exchange with Tiburon police at our place of work. Khalif then told the officers that they are are exercising unnecessary caution because there are three Black people in the store, according to the video. Tiburon Town Council & Belvedere City Council Virtual Town Hall & Community Forum 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27. https://zoom.us/j/95644043303 or 669-900-6833, meeting ID 956 4404 3303. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. It is unclear whether or not the police received a 911 call that prompted their presence at YEMA late that night. In it, the officers, who first note that Khalif is in the store at 1 a.m., past the typical 9 p.m. shut-down time for activity on the street, can be heard repeatedly demanding that Khalif prove his ownership of the business, either by showing identification or putting his key in the shops door. The Aug. 21 incident is the second time in recent months the Tiburon Police Department has come under public scrutiny for its response to racial issues in the wake of the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd and ensuing Black Lives Matter protests across the country, including several in Tiburon. 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. Khalif begins speaking over the officer when Awash appears to say, OK baby? but Khalif tells her No, no and again asks the officer if theres a problem. Khalif was also a speaker at the 2018 Belvedere-Tiburon Librarys Pop-Up 94920 series. Officers from both the Tiburon and Belvedere police departments arrived that August 2020 night around 1 a.m., when Khalif, Awash and a friend were stocking clothes at the upscale boutique on . Proceeds from clothing sales help send orphans go to school. The protest, which featured a diverse array of Black speakers in the community, including Marin residents Paul Austin and Amber Allen-Peirson, called for police reformation, community reparations, and institutionalized changes to prevent further racial profiling. Reach him at 415-435-2652, on Twitter at @thearknewspaper and on Facebook at fb.me/thearknewspaper. Monaghan accepted a conditional offer in February, Chanis said. Maegan Hall, the female officer at the center of the scandal, has been fired, city officials said. The department is open to the public. 49K views 2 years ago Tiburon has released footage from a police officer's body-worn camera of a controversial Friday night confrontation between police and a Black business owner who was. Khalif said Fredericks came by the shop on Aug. 24, two days after she had sent out her email statement extending her heartfelt apologies to the couple. He opened the store this past February and says it's not unusual for them to work late into the night. 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. Thats all we want to know, Blasi says. If I tell you its my store, then what? Khalif asks in the video. A virtual Tiburon town meeting was held Thursday night to discuss an interaction that took place over the weekend between police officers and the only Black store owners in the town. Monaghan has taught administration of justice at the San Mateo Community College District. A Black man can not say that, but a white man can.. At the conclusion of the investigation, the findings will be presented to her and the rest of the Tiburon Town Council. At least three large posters of Khalif and Awash modeling their clothes are visible on the rear wall throughout the footage. 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. The couple met at Dominican University of California in San Rafael. 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.. We do not need to prove why we need to exist, Khalif said. There's video of the interaction and an investigation underway. Before opening their Tiburon storefront, the couple started selling their clothing online in 2016. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? Khalif said he, Awash and a friend were in the store doing inventory when he noticed a police vehicle circling the block. How can policing be done with empathy," said Khalif. Im not going to answer your question. Khalif said he was racially profiled in February while searching for business license documents in his car in the Town Hall parking lot. Khalif said the officer circled the store three or four times before stopping outside the shop and sitting across the street for about 15 minutes. The encounter escalated when the supervising sergeant arrived on scene. I expressed to him that there was no crime going on and we were going about our business. The two engage, mostly in circles, for the next minute as Madfes repeatedly asks why the three are there so late, and Khalif, at times visibly showing frustration, repeatedly asks why it matters if theres no problem. Michael Blasi, who resigned not long after he was videotaped confronting a Black business owner who was unloading inventory into his store at one in the morning, last August. I look forward to meeting and working with the engaged community members, our town leaders, allied agencies and especially all our town employees who are committed to providing the highest levels of service to everyone who lives, works and visits the town of Tiburon, Monaghan said. Khalif insisted that if he acknowledged he was the owner, absent the officers explanation of a problem, evidence of a crime or reason to doubt him, he didnt need to explain why he was in his own store after hours. And he wanted us to prove who we are. Khalif and Awash say they had already seen the car circle the block three to four times before it stopped outside the shop, where they say it sat for about 15 minutes before the start of the town-released body-cam footage and that they had anticipated what was about to happen next. As the town of Tiburon deals with a controversy involving the Police Department and a Black-owned business, Police Chief Michael Cronin announced on Tuesday that he will retire, according to. One of our business friend was visiting us from washing DC so he came with us. Simpson, who is familiar with Khalif, said he was concerned by the way the three officers were surrounding him, so he yelled down to confirm Khalif was the owner. "There's three Black people in the store, what's the problem?" Town Manager Greg Chanis said he chose the date to " coincide with his military anniversary in 1966.". VIDEO: Berkeley mom films confrontation with white man who ripped down Black Lives Matter signs, Jupiter and Venus appear to 'kiss' in the sky, FL Gov. You sure? This isnt regular business hours, theres no customers in here. Tiburon police records show that no one called police about suspicious activity at the store, and no alarms had been set off. 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. Is it your store that's all we want to know? D, Tiburon, CA 94920 | 415-435-2652 | Privacy Policy| Designed by Kevin Hessel. Awash said she was shaking while recording the incident at the store because of the prior negative encounters with Tiburon police. I opened our balcony door to Main Street, and I heard one of the officers saying, If this is your store, put your key in the door and prove it.. Other people defended the police actions, denying that there was any racial motivation behind the interaction and saying Khalif was in the wrong. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. 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. Tiburon police sergeant shoots self in police station Amy Larson 12/14/2022 TIBURON, Calif. (KRON) A Tiburon Police Department sergeant fatally shot himself inside the police. Its nice to see how the community has come together, and that they are saying what they want to see going forward, Khalif said. We do not need to prove to police that we deserve to be at our clothing store way past business hours.. The four fired men were Patrol Officer Juan Lugo Perez, Sgt. The Tiburon Police Department has 12 sworn officers and four other employees, plus volunteer and reserve officers. Announced the resignation in a newsletter saying [ Sgt a newsletter saying [ Sgt to! 6 minutes of cellphone footage of the scandal, has been fired City. 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