By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. Police: Worker shoots, kills manager at Hobby Lobby in Oklahoma City, Harry, Meghan asked to leave Windsor Estate home in further royal rift, FBI reportedly resisted searching Trumps Mar-a-Lago for classified documents, Death toll keeps rising in Greece's deadliest train crash, After shootings, Michigan State to restrict building access, Long-lost ship found in Lake Huron, confirming tragic story, GZA, Donnie Iris, John Mayer among top concerts to see around Pittsburgh in March, How officials cracked case of eyedrops that blinded people. Smyly resigned prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary process, but police indicated the process likely would have resulted in suspension or termination. Read more here. The report indicated none of the officers, including Smyly, ever pointed a gun or stun gun at Atkinson. Located across the street from one another on Ohio Street in downtown Chicago, Pizzeria Uno and Due are owned by Uno Restaurant Holdings Corp., which announced it is selling its frozen pizza division to focus on expanding the restaurant franchise. Our staff spoke to John Smyly yesterday concerning the controversy over his temporary position here. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Police shooting verdict sparks protest in California: in pictures Show all 10 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. A Cactus League road game yesterday came hours after Seiya Suzukis disappointment over his oblique strain and outlook at what comes next for the Chicago Cubs right fielder. Pelle wrote that his initial hiring approval was based on Smyly being the best candidate for the job, which was a temporary, non-enforcement job with no public contact or representation.. Read more here. At this point, Smyly called in for a cover car and told Atkinson he was obstructing a police officer and was detaining him and investigating him for trespass. Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Council of American Islamic Relations, speaks as Travis Grant, second left, acting national director of Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and family attorney Zaid Abdallah look on, as they address charges against an Oak Lawn police officer Feb. 15, 2023. That's when the tense 22-minute stand-off ends. The footage shows Smyly investigating Atkinson for trespassing. Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. Thats what youre gonna do, officer? When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to tase him. One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. At about 8:20 a.m., Smyly was in his patrol car when he saw Atkinson from a distance at 2333 Arapahoe Ave. manipulating an unknown object in his left hand. Smyly drove closer and observed Atkinson for a minute and saw him seated on a bench in a patio area that had a sign that said private property.. but it can also be stressful. He will receive commensurate pay and benefits during that period and a single, lump sum payment for any accrued and unused vacation time when his employment officially ends Feb. 9. He shared that he slept on the decision, but he clearly didnt think about how it would land with the community or those few diverse members of his staff. . When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. Listen now. Read more here. More officers -- 8 in total -- eventually arrived, some with guns drawn. Im not tryi. Boulder is essentially saying were going to pay this officer and let him resign for threatening Zayds life, for racially profiling Zayd, said Atkinsons attorney, Siddhartha Rathod. The US economy is sending mixed signals. ", AccuWeather: AM showers before a mild afternoon, Extra Time: Breaking down massive NYC, NYPD settlement, Teammate facing charges in crash that killed local UGA player. Thats what youre gonna do, officer? Smyly asked for Atkinsons date of birth. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! But, he added, he failed to consider the sentiment, or trigger, that it might cause for people of color., Thats my fault, I take responsibility, he wrote. The independent review, conducted by former U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, Bob Troyer, will soon be released by the city. As part of the settlement agreement between Smyly and the City of Boulder his file "will document separation from employment due to resignation.". This was, We failed to consider the sentiment, or tr, equity training and discussions and are committed to, and working with county staff on whatever tools might help us in those, Evolving Doors Dance Moving Through: Bodies, Music, Images, Experience, Boulder County Neighbors Come Together to Support Former Lyons Resident After Racist Facebook Comments Spark Tension | Press Release, SF1 Birthday Bash at Ophelias Electric Soapbox, square product theatre presents return of Greg Woheads Celebration, Florida, Colorado county buys controversial phone-hacking tech using money meant to treat, prevent drug addiction, Impacted Residents Petition Continuous Air Quality Monitoring | Open Letter to the Erie Board of Trustees, On holding Bidens feet to the fire, disproportionate policing, and white supremacists: the Colorado Capitol on Inauguration Day 2021, Impeach Trump Car Parade and Rally: January 10th | Kenneth Wajda Photos, Former sheriffssergeant arrested for using excessive force | Press Release, NAACP Boulder County Letter to Boulder City Council on Police Accountability and Housing for Homeless during the Pandemic. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. We appreciate that in your letter to us you have confirmed your commitment to the efforts of the county to address race and equity issues.. John is not enjoying the spotlight or controversy and understands it is necessary for him to leave. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. Officers were able to talk to Atkinson and a Naropa employee who responded to the scene and confirmed Atkinson was a student and lived in the building. City Attorney Tom Carr said firing Smyly would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job. Smyly approached Atkinson on foot, and saw that he was using a long metal claw to pick up trash and put it in a bucket. The report released with the video said Smyly had no authority to detain Atkinson or probable cause to charge him with any crime and should have left once Atkinson provided his name, address and his reason for being there. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. The report released with the video said Smyly had no authority to detain Atkinson or probable cause to charge him with any crime and should have left once Atkinson provided his name, address and his reason for being there. Im picking up trash! The Boulder Chapter of the NAACP, which emailed the Camera about the hire, decried Smylys hiring in a statement. Newly-released . If you or I did what Officer Smyly did to Zayd Atkinson, not only would we be immediately fired, we would be criminally prosecuted, Rathod said. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Cubs pitcher Drew Smyly is introduced at the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago, Jan. 13, 2023, in Chicago. The shooting was one of the deadliest . . (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). Finally, police confirm his story by asking someone else if he does, in fact, live there. Debris of trains lie on the rail lines after a collision in Tempe, about 235 miles north of Athens, near Larissa, Greece, March 1, 2023. ", Memorial services set to begin for Bishop David O'Connell, World of Barbie to open next month at Santa Monica Place, 5 Freeway through the Grapevine reopens, CHP escorting traffic. Officer down, officer down!: 911 call from scene where Chicago cop shot, left very critical on Southwest Side, Photos: Chicago cop shot, left very critical on Southwest Side, Colson Montgomery, the Chicago White Soxs top prospect, is taking it all in during major-league camp, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Officer John Smyly was among the Boulder Police Department members who rousted Naropa student Zayd Atkinson for picking up trash at his own home in March 2019. Some understood the past controversy in his role as a city police officer, so they brought this decision to some of our executive staff members, including myself, for discussion. Atkinson said he did, and Smyly asked for identification with the address on it. Smyly can be heard saying, You have a dangerous object in your hand and you are failing to put it down., When Atkinson points out you are holding a gun, while he has a trash grabber, Smyly says, I feel threatened because you are not putting it down., Atkinson at several points asks for Smylys supervisor and says, Youre not going to get away with murder. The iconic deep dish chain is focusing on expanding its franchise restaurants. Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. Kazeem Oyeneyin answers the door at his home in Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 17. When Smyly asked for an address and date of birth, Atkinson walked away and began to pick up trash again. He can be heard saying in the body cam video, Youre probably going to get tased in a second, because you have a weapon. Smyly then drew his handgun, telling police he believed the stun gun would not be effective because Atkinson was wearing a heavy coat. Not for the "stupid price" of $150 an acre foot. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News . Atkinson refused, then picked up the bucket and tool and walked away. While it found Smyly violated department policy, the report indicated there was not enough evidence to support racial bias being a factor. This was a temporary, non-enforcement job with no public contact or representation. Feds sue Fort Collins water company for a Grand River Ditch rupture that damaged Rocky Mountain National Park in 2017, Boulder County took a month or longer to notify inmates that the jail had exposed their Social Security numbers. Wake up to the day's most important news. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. Oyeneyin was handcuffed and detained in his own home after police responded to a burglar alarm in process. A disciplinary appeal process required by the police collective bargaining agreement likely would have overturned a termination of the officer, and he would have returned to duty after extensive additional delay, Carr said in the statement. We have been engaged in race equity training and discussions and are committed to continuing those efforts and working with county staff on whatever tools might help us in those efforts. Heres what it all means. "Shouldn't that be enough for you?". New video shows the heated encounter that went viral back in March -- a black man confronted by a Boulder police officer while picking up trash in his own yard. Ex-Boulder Officer John Smyly was found in violation of department policy. After about eight minutes, more officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. Now that the two candidates have been determined . BOULDER, Colo. -- New video shows the heated encounter that went viral back in March -- a black man confronted by a Boulder police officer while picking up trash in his own yard. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. But an independent review of the confrontation found no impropriety in the procedures . He. Youre gonna shoot a resident on his property for picking up trash?, Smyly drew his gun when the two men reached the back of the building, an investigative summary said. The investigation found officer John Smyly violated two department policies and found no evidence to support a claim of racial profiling. In response, NAACP leaders wrote that theyre glad Smyly will be leaving the position, as well as saying they appreciated the acknowledgement that Pelle failed to consider the impact the hiring decision might have had on people of color. Boulder officials did not immediately return a request for how much Smyly would be paid during his time on leave. When Zayde Atkinson refuses, Smyly threatens to . According to the report, Atkinson raised his voice and Smyly felt threatened by the trash grabber and drew his stun gun and then drew his handgun. abcnews.go.com Police officer who pulled gun on black man picking up trash quits force Ex-Boulder Officer John Smyly was found in violation of department policy. According to the Boulder County Sheriffs Office, Smyly was hired in January on a two-year term position as a civilian training and development coordinator in the sheriffs computer support unit. One officer drew his handgun when he arrived but reholstered it in less than a minute, while Smyly had his gun out until Atkinson put the trash-grabbing tool down, according to the summary. Gen Z Voices: Attending school on a tribal reservation, and outside of it, led Aidan Gover to discover the disparities in education. If you know what department Smyly is working it, please email that information to realjamesfreeman@gmail.com, so I can publicly publish that information, warning potential new victims.ID Refusal by Boulder Colorado man, Zayde Atkinson results in threats and officer John Smyly brandishing a fire arm.email videos you want covered on this channel to Realjamesfreeman@gmail.com James Freeman does first amendment audits, cop watching, cop blocking, and more. He has agreed to immediately seek other employment outside of the county government. The city on Thursday announced the settlement but did not include the terms in a news release. "I'm just checking to make sure that you have a right to be here, that's all. Obviously, I still have things to learn.. Since Live PD and Cops was cancelled, James Freeman does LIVE STREAMING COP WATCHES. We can help you keep up. After about eight minutes, more officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. Police body camera footage released Thursday provided a full video account of the tense encounter, which had gained national attention based on video shot by someone inside a student dormitory at Naropa University, a liberal arts school associated with Buddhism in the city of Boulder. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/breaking and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. He then told Atkinson that he was obstructing a police officer, a jailable offense. Smyly later told Atkinson that he was being detained for trespassing. Officer John Smyly (Photo: Boulder Police Department) Subscribe to more newsletters | COVID-19 tracker | Compare home values by ZIP code | Puzzles & Games | Daily horoscope | Ask Amy, Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Council of American Islamic Relations, speaks as Travis Grant, second left, acting national director of Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and family attorney Zaid Abdallah look on, as they address charges against an Oak Lawn police officer Feb. 15, 2023. Wagner said the office did not have any comment about Smylys history with Boulder police because the job isnt as an officer/deputy or in any way related to police officer/law enforcement duties., According to a summary of the investigation released by Boulder police, Smyly was conducting extra patrols on March 1, 2019, in the area of Folsom Street and Arapahoe Avenue when he saw Atkinson seated on a bench in a patio area that had a sign that said private property.. By. "My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled," he . Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. John is not enjoying the spotlight or controversy and understands it is necessary for him to leave. says Zayd Atkinson, while officer threatens to taze him, puts hand on gun, then 7 more arrive, all while Atkinson pick up trash at his residence. Heres a look at where some ward races stand: View election results, read our full election coverage at chicagotribune.com/elections and see which mayoral candidate received the most votes in your ward. The officer allegedly struck a Bridgeview teen more than 10 times in the face and head as he was laying face down in the street during an arrest captured on video last July. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. Boulder police said there is no evidence Atkinson was racially profiled. 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