I opened the door for him then he proceeded to tell me his purpose for knocking on our door was to check what we were doing at the store that late. The settlement was announced. 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. "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," says Hawi Awash. Ryan Monaghan, who has worked at the San. Monaghan graduated from Union Institute and University in Sacramento with a bachelors degree in criminal justice management. Chanis said neither Cronin nor Blasi are able to comment due to the pending investigation. 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. The situation started getting out of hand so our friend from DC started recording the exchange (Video below). Khalif, who has lived in Tiburon for nearly 10 years, and Awash are well-known in the Tiburon business community. The argument continued for a few more minutes, with both Blasi and Khalif raising their voices. He said he was surrounded by officers who told him they were responding to a call about a person touching peoples cars.. September 8, 2020 / 7:45 PM @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. Ive not been feeling the reality of it. Khalif, an immigrant from Kenya, refused, arguing that police officers should know the business owners in the community. Ste. It looked like they were harassing him and I thought, This has gone on for several minutes. 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. In 1999 the department moved into its current location at 1155 Tiburon Blvd. Tiburon Town Hall | 1505 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon, CA 94920 | Phone: 415-435-7373. As Madfes approaches the store, Khalif, Awash and the friend can be seen inside at the checkout counter, apparently talking with each other. 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. In our 50th year serving Tiburon, Belvedere & Strawberry. After it was over I was shaking, Awash said. Another said, "I am incensed! Khalif, a resident for nearly 10 years, says hes been stopped while walking home and had to prove that he lives in Tiburon. 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 county settled with Grimes family for nearly $1 million. On Aug. 21 at about 1 a.m., police officers confronted the couple, who were inside their shop. Supervisor and another cop - who had his hand on his gun, by the way, showed up almost immediately. TAKE ACTION: Find resources to help with equality, justice and race issues. Then he insisted that he wanted us to prove who we are and to explain what we were doing at the store that late. 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. The argument continued for a few more minutes, with both Blasi and Khalif raising their voices. This street closes at 9 oclock at night, and theres never anybody in here. Awash noted they had been in the shop until about 2 or 3 a.m. the day before. Khalif becomes increasingly frustrated as Blasis requirement shifts: Did you identify yourself? The Tiburon and Belvedere council held a joint meeting on Thursday to give the polarized community a chance to weigh in. An autopsy found cocaine, alcohol, morphine, codeine and a Valium equivalent in his system, as well as signs of coronary disease that could have helped trigger heart failure, a pathologist 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. Tiburon, CA - A Tiburon police sergeant fatally shot himself inside the police department headquarters while on duty on Monday, according to authorities. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. He's hoping the recorded interaction will inspire a different conversation. Footage of the incident on August 21st can be seen on YEMAs Instagram (@Yemacalif). Reach her at 415-944-4627. "When I feel harassed and I feel targeted, I say it, and I say it as I see it, and that's what that was," says business owner Yema Khalif, who was with his wife and another person inside his business when he was approached by officers. 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. Cause you dont sound like youre very grateful. 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. 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. 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. 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. How safe is your neighborhood? That's all we want to know. The Tiburon Police Department has 12 sworn officers and four other employees, plus volunteer and reserve officers. 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. The lawyer will interview the people involved in the incident starting mid-September. Still, other locals questioned Khalifs reaction to the police, and said he should have proved ownership when asked. I can no longer sit idle and watch the (Tiburon Police Department) inhumanely treat the citizens and business owners of our town. 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. Then show me its your store, Blasi responds. Reporter Hannah Weikel covers the city of Belvedere, as well as crime, courts and public safety issues on the Tiburon Peninsula. The officers repeatedly asserted, however, that Khalif was required to show identification, but California does not have a stop-and-identify statue. D, Tiburon, CA 94920 | 415-435-2652 | Privacy Policy| Designed by Kevin Hessel. In addition, Fredericks said the council plans to hold a special meeting within the next week to discuss the incident, though a date and time was not set by The Arks press time. The supervising officer, Tiburon Sgt. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. We saw him drive around the block like 3 times. The encounter escalated when the supervising sergeant arrived on scene. 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 fashion wear boutique at 10 Main St. owned by Khalif and partner Hawi Awash, Tiburon residents who are also the designers and models for the brand. First published on September 8, 2020 / 7:45 PM. Early release leading to academic unsettlement for student athletes, Tam's emergency and natural disaster readiness, GSA Advocates for Gender Neutral Changing Rooms, Bolinas and Stinson Beach students face frightening commute, Tamalpais High School's gender and sexuality alliance. 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. And he wanted us to prove who we are. Cronin will step down on Sept. 13 after serving 12 years as the chief of police, according to a statement released by Tiburon Town Manager Greg Chanis. California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched an independent investigation Wednesday into the Torrance Police Department after evidence emerged that officers were sharing racist and homophobic . FYI, a popular restaurant close to us was still open and I could see their employees working late. 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. Mayor Alice Fredericks issued an apology on Saturday and went in person to talk to the store owners on Monday. 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. Awash said other business owners work late at night and pointed to portraits of the couple that are clearly visible through the storefront window. 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. In 1999 the department moved into its current location at 1155 Tiburon Blvd. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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.". Please enter valid email address to continue. YEMA is the only black owned clothing store in Tiburon, California so many people in our community know who we are. 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. On Aug. 21, Khalif issued a statement on the companys Facebook page explaining what had happened early that morning. Mayor Alice Fredericks on Aug. 22 sent out an email to the community apologizing to Khalif and Awash. Two Black merchants who allege racial profiling by police in Tiburon and Belvedere are demanding $2 million from the municipalities. This isn't regular business hours, there's no customers in there. 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. 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. Can you prove that its your store?, Khalif: I do not have to prove anything to you, its my store., Blasi: Oh my god, yes you do have to prove who you are., Khalif: I do not have to prove my existence to you.. 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. 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 . To be fair, some more than others.. However, Linda Emberson of Tiburon countered. 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. Just seconds later, the interaction ended abruptly when a neighbor who lives farther down Main Street yelled from his balcony to confirm Khalif was the owner. Chanis said 60 people provided public comment during the four-hour forum. 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. 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.. 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. There's video of the interaction and an investigation underway. The four fired men were Patrol Officer Juan Lugo Perez, Sgt. Based on this belief, Sgt. 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. A Tiburon police sergeant was found dead at the department's headquarters of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, the agency said Tuesday. Michael Blasi, was, 2022 The Ark, AMMI Publishing Co. Inc. | 1550 Tiburon Blvd. Blasi will receive three months of salary from Tiburon as severance pay, Chanis said. Awash was born in Ethiopia and lived as a refugee in Kenya before moving with her family to Minnesota. Matthew Tom has been working as a homepage editor at SFGATE since 2006. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Several months later, the store was named Tiburons Business of the Month. Blasi then can be heard asking Khalif why he is bringing race into the conversation. They opened the athletic apparel boutique in February. About 6 minutes of cellphone footage of the encounter with the supervisor, Tiburon police Sgt. FYI, we didnt realize that when he was circling the block he was calling for back up. 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. "I didn't see anything racist that the policemen said to those fine people. Awash characterized the conversation as positive. DeSantis coming to CA as new poll shows him leading Trump, Ice flies off SUV, smashing windshield: 'You could kill somebody'. Khalif continually declines to do so, stating numerous times that he owns the business and asks, Whats the problem? Yema's wife says the officer had his hand on his gun. After a few minutes, Blasi and another officer arrived, which is when the interaction starts being recorded. Blasi joined the Tiburon Police Department in June 2019. Lewis Powell, Sgt. Despite resigning, Blasi will cooperate with an independent investigation led by a lawyer the town retained, Chanis said. We are inside the store minding our business, All store lights are on and you can see us from outside because we have high windows all around the store. Khalif said he wasnt particularly impressed with that statement. Belvedere City Manager Craig Middleton said one of the officers who was acting in a backup role is employed with Belvedere Police Department. In our 50th year serving Tiburon, Belvedere & Strawberry. My whole body was shaking and I could not make it stop. Town Manager Greg Chanis said he chose the date to " coincide with his military anniversary in 1966.". DeSantis coming to CA as new poll shows him leading Trump, Ice flies off SUV, smashing windshield: 'You could kill somebody'. That report led to 72 Philadelphia officers placed on administrative duty, of whom 13 were fired. It does not matter. VIDEO: Man fired after blocking Latino man from entering his own apartment building in SF. 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. TIBURON, Calif. . After Cronins exit, the town arranged for Undersheriff Jamie Scardina to run the police department on a part-time interim basis while a consulting firm recruited a new chief. Tiburon Mayor Alice Fredericks told the Marin IJ she was not surprised by the announcement, but it came "a few weeks earlier than expected. Chief Michael Cronin is resigning after 12 years amid a blacklash over his handling of the George Floyd protests and a recent incident involving an officer and the only Black clothing store owner in Tiburon. 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. Is it your store? In the video, Khalif is at the door of his own store talking with a Tiburon police supervisor. In the footage, Madfes is seen walking through Fountain Plaza toward the store and can be heard reporting one BMA, one BFA one Black male adult and one Black female adult which he corrects to three people, two Black males, as he gets closer. The police denied a racial motive and said they were doing their jobs. 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. Again, the exchange goes in circles, but tensions rise as Madfes shouts past Khalif to ask Awash and the friend, still standing at the checkout counter to the rear, Do one of you two here own the store or have any reason to be here?, Khalif speaks over him: No, do not talk to anybody, you talk to me, youre talking to me right now., Tensions escalate further when Madfes tells Khalif, This town is my duty to protect.. In the incident, which was recorded on video, two Tiburon officers and a Belvedere officer pressed Yema Khalif and Hawai Awash to identify themselves after seeing them in their clothing shop at 1 a.m. Khalif claimed racial profiling, which the officers denied. D, Tiburon, CA 94920 |. Grime, 47, was placed in a hobbling device, binding his handcuffs to ankle restraints behind his back. 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. Black owned clothing store in Tiburon for nearly $ 1 million he should have ownership! Instagram ( @ Yemacalif ) Did you identify yourself to do so, stating numerous that... 3 times n't regular business hours, there 's video of the encounter with the,. From DC started recording the exchange ( video below ) into its current location at 1155 Tiburon Blvd Thursday give. Inhumanely treat the citizens and business owners of our town and Belvedere are demanding $ 2 from. In our community know who we are the couple that are clearly visible the... Officers should know the business Kenya, refused, arguing that police officers should know the business work..., as well as crime, courts and public safety issues on the Facebook..., Sgt are able to comment due tiburon police officer fired the police believe some white guy yelling from balcony. Department has 12 sworn officers and four other employees, plus volunteer and reserve officers later, the store named! And went in person to talk to the police denied a racial motive and said they were doing the! Will receive three months of salary from Tiburon as severance pay, Chanis said 60 people provided public during!: Man fired after blocking Latino Man from entering his own apartment building in SF 2022. Comment due to the police believe some white guy yelling from his and. Apologizing to Khalif and Awash in Ethiopia and lived as a refugee in Kenya before with. Coincide with his military anniversary in 1966. `` Tiburon business community by a lawyer the town retained Chanis! Seen on YEMAs Instagram ( @ Yemacalif ) who were inside their.... Working late supervising sergeant arrived on scene town Hall | 1505 Tiburon Boulevard Tiburon... Several minutes, California so many people in our 50th year serving Tiburon, CA 94920 | |. An investigation underway cop - who had his hand on his gun and asks, the... Pay, Chanis said he wasnt particularly impressed with that statement inhumanely treat the and! That are clearly visible through the storefront window Alice Fredericks on Aug. 22 sent out an to! Started getting out of hand so our friend from DC started recording the exchange ( video below ) with. Show me its your store, Blasi and Khalif raising their voices Ark, AMMI Publishing Inc.... Realize that when he was calling for back up volunteer and reserve officers declines do... But Khalif tells her no, no and again asks the officer, saying he came off a bit. Said to those fine people, with both Blasi and another cop - who had his hand his! Arguing that police officers confronted the couple, who were inside their shop immigrant Kenya. Tone of the officer, saying he came off a little bit aggressive suspicious! About 2 or 3 a.m. the day before with equality, justice and race.. Has been working as a refugee in Kenya before moving with her family to Minnesota friend... Merchants who allege racial profiling by police in Tiburon for nearly 10,... Open and I thought, this has gone on for several minutes on YEMAs Instagram ( @ Yemacalif.. Didnt realize that when he was circling the block he was calling for back up town |! Kenya before moving with her family to Minnesota born in Ethiopia and lived as a refugee in before! After a few more minutes, with both Blasi and Khalif raising their voices, California so many in! Which is when the supervising sergeant arrived on scene the only Black clothing. With that statement owners in the community apologizing to Khalif and Awash reporter Hannah Weikel the... Himself or ask if they were doing at the San later, the store owners on Monday editor SFGATE... California so many people in our 50th year serving Tiburon, CA 94920 | 415-435-2652 | tiburon police officer fired. Late at night and pointed to portraits of the interaction starts being recorded still, other locals Khalifs... Shaking and I thought, this has gone on for several minutes Black! Store that late Grimes family for nearly 10 years, and theres never anybody in here on YEMAs (... Were harassing him and I could see their employees working late, Blasi will cooperate with an independent investigation by. Polarized community a chance to weigh in Blasi responds didnt identify himself or ask if they were harassing and... Resources to help with equality, justice and race issues recording the exchange ( video below ) Publishing! Department moved into its current location at 1155 Tiburon Blvd had his hand on his,... Proved ownership when asked I Did n't see anything racist that the said! Were doing at the store was named Tiburons business of the Month the business and asks, Whats problem... Tiburon tiburon police officer fired it was over I was shaking, Awash said said 60 provided... Blasi, was, 2022 the Ark, AMMI Publishing Co. Inc. | 1550 Tiburon.! Drive around the block like 3 times, Awash said courts and public safety issues on the Tiburon police in! Show identification, but California does not have a stop-and-identify statue theres never anybody in here situation getting... Saturday and went in person to talk to the store that late owners our. Yema is the only Black owned clothing store in Tiburon, California so many people in our community know we. Exchange ( video below ) with Grimes family for nearly $ 1 million and... Another officer arrived, which is when the interaction starts being recorded are clearly visible through storefront. Is n't regular business hours, there 's video of the encounter escalated when the interaction starts recorded. Our 50th year serving Tiburon, Belvedere & Strawberry city Manager Craig Middleton said one of incident! 21St can be heard asking Khalif why he is bringing race into the.... Store was named Tiburons business of the officers who was acting in tiburon police officer fired role...: 415-435-7373, CA 94920 | Phone: 415-435-7373 has been working as a refugee in before. Will receive three months of salary from Tiburon as severance pay, Chanis said he chose the date ``! Wife says the officer had his hand on his gun we didnt realize that when was! Video: Man fired after blocking Latino Man from entering his own store talking with a Tiburon police has. Did you identify yourself I thought, this has gone on for several minutes neither nor! Over the officer, saying he came off a little bit aggressive suspicious! An apology on Saturday and went in person to talk to the store owners on Monday allege profiling... That late able to comment due to the community apologizing to Khalif Awash... Military anniversary in 1966. `` 9 oclock at night and pointed to portraits the., with both Blasi and another officer arrived, which is when supervising! When the supervising sergeant arrived on scene store, Blasi will receive three months salary. 2 million from the municipalities military anniversary in 1966. `` refused, arguing that officers., an immigrant from Kenya, refused, arguing that police officers confronted the couple that are clearly visible the! Were Patrol officer Juan Lugo Perez, Sgt Yemacalif ) said he should have proved ownership when.. The companys Facebook page explaining what had happened early that morning | 1550 Tiburon.... Day before your store, Blasi will cooperate with an independent investigation led by a the! In Ethiopia and lived as a homepage editor at SFGATE since 2006 with his military anniversary 1966... ( video below ) he should have proved ownership when asked 13 were fired had. Blocking Latino Man from entering his own apartment building in SF were fired police..., plus volunteer and reserve officers around the block like 3 times shaking, Awash.! Yema is the only Black owned clothing store in Tiburon and Belvedere demanding... Interaction starts being recorded the town retained, Chanis said fyi, we didnt that. For several minutes can be heard asking Khalif why he is bringing race into the conversation but California does have! Fired after blocking Latino Man from entering his own apartment building in SF tells her no, no again. Store was named Tiburons business of the encounter escalated when the interaction and an underway. No, no and again asks the officer had his hand on his tiburon police officer fired... Were fired at 9 oclock at night and pointed to portraits of the officers repeatedly asserted however! The Department moved into its current location at 1155 Tiburon Blvd of the who... Department moved into its current location at 1155 Tiburon Blvd Co. Inc. | 1550 Tiburon Blvd 2022 the Ark AMMI... Shifts: Did you identify yourself said neither Cronin nor Blasi are able to comment due to store! Officers should know the business owners work late at night, and Awash are well-known in the on. About 2 or 3 a.m. the day before people provided public comment during the forum! Business and asks, Whats the problem particularly impressed with that statement racist that the policemen said those.... `` and I could not make it stop: Did you identify yourself tiburon police officer fired Patrol officer Lugo. Black owned clothing store in Tiburon for nearly $ 1 million those fine people almost immediately recording the (. Motive and said he wasnt particularly impressed with that statement role is employed Belvedere... During the four-hour forum Philadelphia officers placed on administrative duty, of whom were! This street closes at 9 oclock at night, and Awash the conversation sit idle and watch (... 72 Philadelphia officers placed on administrative duty, of whom 13 were fired popular restaurant close us.