At one point he stopped across our store for a good minute. TIBURON (KPIX/CBS SF) -- The police chief of the City of Tiburon is stepping down , according to a report in the Marin Independent Journal. "This street closes at 9 o'clock at night and there's never anybody in here. 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. They opened the athletic apparel boutique in February. "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. The Tiburon Police Department was established in 1972 following the towns incorporation by eight years. In the video, Blasi eventually says Khalif should be grateful that the officers are looking out for his shop. A Tiburon police sergeant has resigned following a confrontation with a Black merchant that critics say stemmed from racial profiling. I stood my ground that day, but this did not hit me until next day, he said. He went on to say that both he and Awash have been stopped numerous times by Tiburon police, both in their cars and walking down the street. A Black business owner is speaking out after Tiburon police demanded proof he was the store's owner. On Aug. 21 at about 1 a.m., police officers confronted the couple, who were inside their shop. I can no longer sit idle and watch the (Tiburon Police Department) inhumanely treat the citizens and business owners of our town. This isnt regular business hours, theres no customers in here. A place where Ive lived for nine and a half years? Another said, "I am incensed! At 1 a.m. Saturday morning, Tiburon police officers saw three people inside the clothing store Yema on Main Street and decided to check it out. Khalif and Awash said Chanis, the town manager, reached out to them after the incident, and the three met on Aug. 23. Is it your store that's all we want to know? Khalif acknowledged several times that I want you to look out for my store and I want you to look out for my community, but he repeatedly asked the officers what activity, beyond his presence alone, was suspicious and required explanation. Two Black merchants who allege racial profiling by police in Tiburon and Belvedere are demanding $2 million from the municipalities. It sounded like a fist-fight was going to happen, Simpson said. He's hoping the recorded interaction will inspire a different conversation. An officers observations of perceived race, sex and age are standard when reporting in to dispatchers, as well as in logs and police reports. Blasi offered, and the town has accepted, his voluntary resignation.. Some days we have to work late. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Another protest is planned at the Tiburon Police Department on Saturday. The confrontation also spurred a protest in front of the Tiburon Police Department on Saturday. "He has fostered partnerships, communication, and trust within our community, and his philosophy toward successful law enforcement practices has substantially moved our department forward.". Required fields are marked *. TIBURON, Calif. . A Tiburon police sergeant was found dead at the department's headquarters of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, the agency said Tuesday. This street closes at 9 oclock at night, and theres never anybody in here. The nearly 11-minute recording includes about 5 previously unseen minutes of the incident, which occurred about 1 a.m. Aug. 21 at Yema, the "action . That's all we want to know. Chanis said neither Cronin nor Blasi are able to comment due to the pending investigation. The county settled with Grimes family for nearly $1 million. 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 . I cannot fathom how that could happen. Khalif and Awash said Chanis, the town manager, reached out to them after the incident, and the three met on Aug. 23. The couple met at Dominican University. He opened the store this past February and says it's not unusual for them to work late into the night. This isn't regular business hours, there's no customers in there. DeSantis coming to CA as new poll shows him leading Trump, Ice flies off SUV, smashing windshield: 'You could kill somebody'. Also sacked were Sgt. One of our business friend was visiting us from washing DC so he came with us. Ive not been feeling the reality of it. The confrontation led to a rally in Tiburon on Aug. 29 against racial profiling. It first operated from 80 Main Street before moving in the late 70s into surplus military housing near its present site. 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. In our 50th year serving Tiburon, Belvedere & Strawberry. I do not have any intention of removing them at this time, Cronin said. DeSantis coming to CA as new poll shows him leading Trump, Ice flies off SUV, smashing windshield: 'You could kill somebody'. We are not interested in blanket apologies that have no honesty and truth and actionable things that will prevent a situation like this from happening to the next Black man, he said. 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. 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. While K-9 officer Larry Holladay, Patrol Officer Patrick. YEMA is the only black owned clothing store in Tiburon, California so many people in our community know who we are. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? The newly released footage begins about 6 minutes before that video begins, when Madfes is already parked on Tiburon Boulevard at Main Street and is getting out of his squad car. My whole body was shaking and I could not make it stop. 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. Then we see Tiburon police car patrolling. 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. Other people defended the police actions, denying that there was any racial motivation behind the interaction and saying Khalif was in the wrong. Cronin quickly apologized, saying he stood in support of peaceful protests in Marin City and condemned racism, social injustice and police brutality. The recording shows a Tiburon officer, identified as supervising Sgt. In it, you can hear officers questioning Khalif multiple times: "Do one of you own the store?". His tone not very like-able. This street closes at 9 oclock at night, and theres never anybody in here. 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. 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. Body cam and cell phone footage shows the altercation as it unfolds. "Had that white neighbor not said anything that night, maybe Yema wouldn't be here with us today and I would let that sink in for a minute," Hawi Awash told ABC 7 News. It first operated from 80 Main Street before moving in the late 70's into surplus military housing near its present site. "There's three Black people in the store, what's the problem?" 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. It was saddening to see that there wasnt any recognition from the police involved that this was a situation where they made a mistake.. Three former Aurora, Colo., police officers have lost a bid to get their jobs back after being fired in connection to posed photos reenacting a chokehold near the site where . RELATED: Santa Clara University professor, her brother racially profiled by campus guards, In an emailed statement writing, "The Town is engaging the services of an outside, independent attorney to conduct an investigation of the incident involving a local business owner and Tiburon Police Officers on August 21 at 10 Main Street. That report led to 72 Philadelphia officers placed on administrative duty, of whom 13 were fired. In these conversations, Sergeant Blasi expressed his love for Tiburon and described the deep connection he developed during his time serving the community, Chanis wrote in a message to residents. Cause you dont sound like youre very grateful. 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. He also holds a masters degree in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. "We're trying to build a brand with a big heart," said Khalif. "How can we do better as a community? Awash also noted the tone of the officer, saying he came off a little bit aggressive and suspicious. She said he didnt identify himself or ask if they were working late. That seemed to satisfy the officers, and they promptly left without the proof they had demanded for roughly 10 minutes. Before Khalif was able to show the three officers that he had a working key to the store, an unnamed local can be heard from afar verifying that Khalif was the owner. 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. 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 Tiburon police sergeant was found dead at the department's headquarters of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, the agency said Tuesday. 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. He said he was surrounded by officers who told him they were responding to a call about a person touching peoples cars.. 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. Their pictures are even on the store's walls. Khalif and Awash say, however, that they shouldnt be required to repeatedly identify themselves to police to prove who they are and that they belong in town. 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. 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. 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. It is clear that did not occur in this instance.. 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. Why would the police believe some white guy yelling from his balcony and not the Black business owner stating he owned the business? she wrote. The Tiburon Police Department has 12 sworn officers and four other employees, plus volunteer and reserve officers. Khalif said he wasnt particularly impressed with that statement. TAKE ACTION: Find resources to help with equality, justice and race issues. Tiburon police sergeant resigns amid racial, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Alameda County DAs new policy will reduce prison sentences through widespread elimination of sentencing enhancements, Tiburon police sergeant resigns amid racial profiling claims, Letters: Plethora of problems | Creating AL | Provenance of woke | Teen girls | Public bank. Whatever the intention of the responding officers, the interchange inappropriately deteriorated from helpful to confrontational, Fredericks said in the statement, adding that Tiburon officers are trained and expected to de-escalate situations such as these. 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