The department also updated its use-of-force policy to align with calls to de-escalate police encounters with the public. It just felt like it was going to progress into something ugly., Khalif called the fact that the situation was diffused by a white neighbor yelling down to vouch for him the icing on the cake., A Black man cannot be in this space in this particular hour and say, Im OK, no need to be talking to you, move along. A Black man can not say that, but a white man can.. After the video of the incident was posted on Yemas Instagram and went viral, discussion caught like wildfire across social media platforms. After Khalif asks four times what happens next if he acknowledges it is, Blasi says Khalif should be grateful that the officers are looking out for his shop. This street closes at 9 oclock at night, and theres never anybody in here. If I tell you its my store, then what? Khalif responded. 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. In our 50th year serving Tiburon, Belvedere & Strawberry. Nearly all the comments expressed outrage with Tiburon police with calls to hold the officers accountable. The incident, early last Friday morning, is now the subject of an independent . While K-9 officer Larry Holladay, Patrol Officer Patrick. 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. 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.. Other downtown business owners rallied around the couple, saying theyve never been questioned by police while working late into the evening, past closing time, including Chelsea Ialeggio, a real-estate agent who said she has had offices in town with both Frank Howard Allen and now at Vanguard Properties. 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. Ste. The supervisor came charged and did not come to deescalate anything. I want to know what youre doing in this store at one oclock in the morning? one of the officers is heard asking in the clip. Ryan Monaghan, who has worked at the San Mateo department for 27 years, will start the new job on April 5. There are three Black people in the store whats the problem with that?, Watch the video on Instagram at instagram.com/p/CEKwyUrJIdl. 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. Tiburon chief Cronin also resigned effective September 13, in response to the alleged racial profiling incident at YEMA. 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. Cronin declined to declined to identify the other two officers other than to say one works for Tiburon and the other for Belvedere. Awash noted they had been in the shop until about 2 or 3 a.m. the day before. During hours when the department is closed, visitors can be directly connected to our dispatch center via a phone outside our front entrance. If they had just proved it was their business then that wouldve been it.. Blasi made $10,122 a month. Tiburon Town Hall | 1505 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon, CA 94920 | Phone: 415-435-7373. 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. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? However, Linda Emberson of Tiburon countered. Khalif becomes increasingly frustrated as Blasis requirement shifts: Did you identify yourself? said Yema Khalif in a video his friend took. 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. 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. As Madfes approaches the store, Khalif, Awash and the friend can be seen inside at the checkout counter, apparently talking with each other. Khalif said when it became clear the officer wasnt understanding him, he asked the officer to call his supervisor. Email: mtom@sfgate.com. Yema's wife says the officer had his hand on his gun. Some days we have to work late. Footage of the incident on August 21st can be seen on YEMAs Instagram (@Yemacalif). today at a #BlackLivesMatter rally in response to a standoff in which Sgt. Monaghans starting annual salary is $195,000, which is 3% less than Cronins salary, Chanis said. Blasi begins asking the same questions as the first officer, including what the three were doing there late at night. It looked like they were harassing him and I thought, This has gone on for several minutes, Simpson said. In it, you can hear officers questioning Khalif multiple times: "Do one of you own the store?". Cronin quickly apologized, saying he stood in support of peaceful protests in Marin City and condemned racism, social injustice and police brutality. ", Others responded with different views, saying that officers were just doing their job. "This particular day we had just received a huge inventory and we just wanted to come out and put the inventory out before Saturday morning," said Khalif. Khalif and Awash said Chanis, the town manager, reached out to them after the incident, and the three met on Aug. 23. Tiburon officials have selected a San Mateo police lieutenant as the town's next police chief, filling a post that had been vacant for six months. In an Aug. 24 interview, Khalif said he had no doubt the officers confronted him because of his race and said he was still traumatized., I could have been another statistic, I could have been another George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, but I did not take the bait, he said. The couple met at Dominican University. Michael Blasi, becoming more frustrated and confrontational with Khalif, who also appears exasperated with the interaction, as the minutes go by. 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. I think right now everybody should get involved just because, whats going on in the country; the climate and everything. Yesterday was one of those days. I was not specifically aware of that event.. We welcome and encourage your thoughts and comments. Blasi has responded to numerous law enforcement-related questions on Quora, a question-and-answer website, over the last few years. Khalif says he wasnt angry, just putting his foot down. About 2 minutes into the video, Khalif says that if Madfes has a problem, call your chief of police, call whoever you wanna call at which point Madfes acknowledges his supervisor, Blasi, is already on his way, consistent with Khalifs previous accounts of the incident. Then he insisted that he wanted us to prove who we are and to explain what we were doing at the store that late. TIBURON, Calif. (KGO) -- On Thursday night, a four-hour, heated virtual community meeting took place over an incident that happened in the small North Bay city of Tiburon, California. Blasi was hired last year by the department after more than 15 years at the Marin County Sheriffs Office as a SWAT team leader, investigator and gang task-force officer. 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 . Update: 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. TIBURON (KPIX/CBS SF) -- The police chief of the City of Tiburon is stepping down , according to a report in the Marin Independent Journa l. Chief Michael Cronin is resigning after 12 years. Awash says shes been stopped in her car by a single officer three to five times in the past year and a half. 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. I think of all of the very late nights I have worked in those offices and never once did the police come by to see who was there as I sat at my desk clearly visible in the window, she said in an email to town officials. 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. ", The business owner tells ABC7 News, "I did feel racially profiled. Supervisor and another cop - who had his hand on his gun, by the way, showed up almost immediately. TIRURON, Calif. (KRON) Tiburon police sergeant Michael Blasi has resigned after video of the encounter between Tiburon police officers and a Black store owner raised concerns, according. To the right in the video, a mannequin frequently is in view, just feet from Khalif, who has approached the door dressed in identical clothing distinctive, African-inspired athletic-leisurewear. By Ewan Palmer On 8/26/20 at 10:17 AM EDT. It was a nearby business owner who yelled to officers that Khalif owned the business, which diffused the situation. Video shows the interaction between the store owner and the police supervisor, who demanded, "I want to know what you're doing in the store at 1'oclock in the morning.". 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. Blasi also receives a monthly pension of $3,224 for his time as a sheriffs deputy, said Jeff Wickham, the county pension board administrator. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith were fired on Jan. 20 after an administrative investigation found they had violated department policy on the. A Black business owner is speaking out after Tiburon police demanded proof he was the store's owner. He opened the store this past February and says it's not unusual for them to work late into the night. Is it your store that's all we want to know? Reporter Hannah Weikel and Assistant Editor Emily Lavin contributed to this report. According to Khalif, the officer responded that he had already called for backup before Khalif made the request. I cannot lie and say Im OK. Im traumatized and my wife is traumatized.. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Awash was born in Ethiopia and lived as a refugee in Kenya before moving with her family to Minnesota. Ste. They opened the athletic apparel boutique in February. This isnt regular business hours, theres no customers in here. Monaghan has taught administration of justice at the San Mateo Community College District. A Change.org petition, signed by nearly 500 people by The Arks press deadline, called for the immediate suspension of Blasi and an investigation into the officers involved. The investigation needs to go further than just this incident at Yema, said Adjani, a friend of the store owners. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. In an interview Aug. 24, Fredericks called the officers behavior unacceptable, and said the Police Department is in the process of hiring an attorney to conduct an independent investigation into the incident. Then show me its your store, Blasi responds. The town announced Blasis resignation on Tuesday. Chanis has denied that Cronin's retirement is connected to the incident involving the business owners, according to the Marin IJ. Store proprietor Yema Khalif, his wife and. That's all we want to know. 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 the Marin Independent Journal. I have been stopped for taking a walk to my house. Blasi stepped in and was recorded arguing with Khalif while the patrol officer and a Belvedere officer stood by. TIBURON (KPIX/CBS SF) -- The police chief of the City of Tiburon is stepping down , according to a report in the Marin Independent Journal. Davina Adjani, a protest organizer, said the might be postponed in light of the resignation, but that Cronin is still a problem for hiring Blasi despite the red flags in his past. ", The community meeting comes after the city released body cam video showing the back and forth between both sides. 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. Khalif, who designs most of the companys clothing, grew up in the Kibera slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Khalif said he was racially profiled in February while searching for business license documents in his car in the Town Hall parking lot. They refused to leave until I proved it, Khalif said in the post. Cronin said he wasnt aware of Blasis involvement in the Grime case when the department hired him last year. In the video, Blasi eventually says Khalif should be grateful that the officers are looking out for his shop. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. ", Khalif: "I do not have to show you nothing. I still believe that the person at the head, Chief Cronin, needs to take some responsibility and do the same that Blasi did and step down, Austin said. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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, Cronin said. 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. One of several discussion threads on Nextdoor.com had racked up 234 comments by the Arks press deadline. In the video, Khalif can be seen wearing a protective mask and engaging with the initially maskless police supervisor, identified as Michael Blasi, who repeatedly asked Khalif to prove his identity as the owner of the store. D, Tiburon, CA 94920 |. Cronin denies his departure is linked to the incident. Scott Adams faces consequence culture as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Rapid demise of Dilbert no surprise to some who were watching, Elon Musk tweets support for Dilbert creator Scott Adams after racist tirade. Blasi begins asking the same questions as the first officer, including what the three were doing there late at night. Ryan Monaghan, who has worked at the San. The confrontation led to a rally in Tiburon on Aug. 29 against racial profiling. Sgt. Police officers in a California town have been accused of racial profiling after confronting a Black business owner who . I expressed to him that there was no crime going on and we were going about our business. 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. You can contact staff from the Police Department and get information about their divisions: Tiburon Town Hall | 1505 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon, CA 94920 | Phone: 415-435-7373 Hours: Administration: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Planning: 8 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Building: 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Public Works: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Town Hall is closed on Fridays. He doesn't believe that would have happened if he was white. You sure? "We're trying to build a brand with a big heart," said Khalif. FYI, a popular restaurant close to us was still open and I could see their employees working late. "Since becoming Police Chief in 2007, the impact of Mikes leadership has been significant for Tiburon," Chanis said. It was more like, Who are you guys, what are you doing in this store, you must identify yourselves and prove why you are here, she said. 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. 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. A percentage of all sales are donated to Road to Freedom Scholarships for the education of orphaned children in Ethiopia and Kenya, a program that was started by Danish actress and part-time Tiburon resident Connie Nielsen. The remaining footage is the body-camera perspective of the exchange previously recorded from inside the store and circulated on social media.