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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. Ste. Tiburon Town Manager Greg Chanis announced the resignation in a newsletter saying [Sgt. 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. He said he was surrounded by officers who told him they were responding to a call about a person touching peoples cars.. If I tell you its my store, then what? Khalif responded. Yema Protest Speech following the incident at his storefront on August 29th. 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. Footage of the incident on August 21st can be seen on YEMAs Instagram (@Yemacalif). Before opening their Tiburon storefront, the couple started selling their clothing online in 2016. 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. The neighbor, Ken Simpson, lives in his Main Street apartment part-time and said hes also accustomed to hearing noise from patrons and employees of downtown restaurants late at night, but the yelling that woke him up about 1:15 a.m. Aug. 21 sounded like it was escalating quickly. I want to know what you're doing in the store at 1 o'clock in the morning.". He went through the normal background check, Cronin said. 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. 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. Khalif posted the video to Instagram. If I tell you its my store, then what? Khalif asks in the video. Khalif and Awash said Cronin had not reached out to them directly in the aftermath of the incident. About 6 minutes of cellphone footage of the encounter with the supervisor, Tiburon police 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. 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. Doesnt the business owner have some responsibility for not complying, which also couldve de-escalated the situation? asked Reedlands resident Elizabeth Shapiro on Nextdoor. 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. The Tiburon and Belvedere council held a joint meeting on Thursday to give the polarized community a chance to weigh in. 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. 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. Khalif refused. You sure? 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. In our 50th year serving Tiburon, Belvedere & Strawberry. Tiburon Town Manager Greg Chanis announced the resignation in a newsletter saying [Sgt. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. What is it that theyre fearing?. Really? 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. 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. Khalif said he wasnt particularly impressed with that statement. Blasi offered, and the town has accepted, his voluntary resignation." The officers repeatedly asserted, however, that Khalif was required to show identification, but California does not have a stop-and-identify statue. Nearly all the comments expressed outrage with Tiburon police with calls to hold the officers accountable. 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? She said that included conversations about how police officers can re-examine their implicit biases and eliminate their own fear on the job. As the recorded interaction passes the 5-minute mark, a neighbor farther down Main Street came out onto his balcony and yelled at the officers that Khalif was the owner of the store. A Tiburon police spokesperson tells ABC7 News the town has hired an outside, independent attorney to conduct an investigation. She said she used to work for Frank Howard Allen Realtors when it had a storefront office in downtown Tiburon. 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. Other people defended the police actions, denying that there was any racial motivation behind the interaction and saying Khalif was in the wrong. He previously worked at The San Francisco Chronicle as a Bay Area news editor and the Oakland Tribune as a senior news editor. 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. 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. Many speakers provided meaningful suggestions and identified specific actions the councils could consider to ensure our communities are safe and welcoming to all, Chanis said. The department also updated its use-of-force policy to align with calls to de-escalate police encounters with the public. Laurie Nilsen is the Emergency Services Coordinator for both towns. Tiburon officials say an independent investigation is now underway, which is the reason why officers were not at Thursday's meeting. Blasi stepped in and was recorded arguing with Khalif while the patrol officer and a Belvedere officer stood by. Video @sherlavars pic.twitter.com/WH5S9Sktxu. Monaghan graduated from Union Institute and University in Sacramento with a bachelors degree in criminal justice management. Your email address will not be published. Once she found out about Blasis past, she said she felt lucky the situation did not end with violence. Tiburon, CA - A Tiburon police sergeant fatally shot himself inside the police department headquarters while on duty on Monday, according to authorities. D, Tiburon, CA 94920 | 415-435-2652 | Privacy Policy| Designed by Kevin Hessel. Khalif continually declines to do so, stating numerous times that he owns the business and asks, Whats the problem? You know, this is not something that is good for the community when this happens, so when everybody has a voice, everybody gets involved, when everybody speaks up when they see any kind of an injustice happening not being bystanders makes the community better, Khalif said. 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. The couple met at Dominican University of California in San Rafael. Ryan Monaghan, who has worked at the San. This isn't regular business hours, there's no customers in there. Madfes says there isnt, but that hes never seen anyone in the store so late. The recording shows a Tiburon officer, identified as supervising Sgt. This street closes at 9 oclock at night, and theres never anybody in here. Michael Blasi, becoming more frustrated and confrontational with Khalif, who also appears exasperated with the interaction, as the minutes go by. Really? Police officers in a California town have been accused of racial profiling after confronting a Black business owner who . 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In a later interview, Awash pointed out that there are large posters on the stores walls of both she and Khalif modeling their clothing. 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. 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 wrote in an citizen complaint to Cronin that was shared with The Ark. Then show me that its your store, said the officer. Michael Blasi, was posted by Khalif to social media later Aug. 21. The Tiburon Police Department has 12 sworn officers and four other employees, plus volunteer and reserve officers. Michael Blasi was the supervising officer on Aug.. We all want this to resolve in a positive way, she said, noting she hopes the incident sparks conversation about police reform and real policing that uses empathy to police our community.. Ryan Monaghan, who has worked at the San Mateo department for 27 years, will start the new job on April 5. He did not comment on whether officers will face disciplinary actions pending the outcome of the investigation. Tiburon resident Nicole Wolf said she would like town officials to take it a step further and fire the officers in the video, as well as Cronin. "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. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? 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