Zayd Atkinson speaks before Boulder City Council on March 18, 2019, about how he was treated by the Boulder Police officers while picking up trash in his own yard. . Boulder City Attorney Tom Carr and Atkinson's attorneys at Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC issued a joint statement on Thursday. The report also lauded the internal affairs sergeant for thoroughness, including checking Smylys stop data. Lawrences arrest came later and with less fanfare. The vast majority of young black men who are shot and killed fall victim to other young black men NOT to police officers of any color. Prolonged litigation will adversely impact those efforts. The Moving can be an exciting experience. The body camera videos, the police reports and dispatch tapes related to the incident are available at https://t.co/Luru5y5XJk pic.twitter.com/1vquVsUp7u. The charges were dismissed after Lawrence completed a deferred sentence; he filed suit in March 2021, asserting that his First and Fourth AmendmentChange made to existing documents, resolutions, or ordinances rights had been violated. The film centers on a recent incident that made headlines around the world: In March 2019, Boulder police officer John Smyly confronted and, ultimately, pointed his gun at Zayd Atkinson, a Black man and a student at Naropa University who was picking up trash outside of his dorm as part of his work-study job. 7On a seemingly normal morning in March of 2019, Zayd Atkinson was picking up trash outside of his . Boulder Police Department. All of the additional officers responding reported that they believed this to be a serious situation because of what they knew from the radio traffic, the report states. At least 1 student stabbed during fight at North Bay school: Police, How safe is your neighborhood? Atkinson." In a viral video, Atkinson was confronted by a police officer while he was picking up trash outside of his . how many wives does mufti menk havemr patel neurosurgeon cardiff 27 februari, 2023 / i how old was stewart granger when he died / av / i how old was stewart granger when he died / av Covering City Council and Sundry, with flair, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022 (Updated Tuesday, Jan. 4). Zayd Atkinson, 26, told ABC News he's still fighting to overcome the "traumatic experience" of being racially profiled by Colorado police officers. Mar. It stated that he is a student at Naropa University. 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. The subject officer notified dispatch and initiated what he described as a consensual contact.. Smyly asked Atkinson if he was permitted to be in the location. Smyly contacted Atkinson March 1 outside Naropa student housing at 2333 Arapahoe Ave. as Atkinson was picking up trash with a long metal claw. 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. The report notes Boulder police Chief Greg Testa got the first complaint about the incident on March 3 from Atkinsons mother, and referred the matter to internal affairs on March 4. He is originally from Hawaii and enjoys the beach, camping, golf, beer and writing third-person bios about himself that exaggerate how outdoorsy he is. Mr. The city settled with Atkinson in March 2020 for $125,000. Zayd Atkinson was among the more than 600 protesters in Boulder on Sunday who marched from . PUBLISHED: May 16, 2019 at 9:28 a.m. | UPDATED: May 16, 2019 at 11:48 a.m. The independent report also echoed the Boulder police report conclusion that there was no evidence of racial bias on the part of Smyly. ", A police internal affairs report obtained by ABC News shows Smyly's decision to attempt to detain Atkinson "was not supported by reasonable suspicion that Mr. Atkinson was committing, had committed, or was about to commit a crime. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. As a result of the listening session, the City established a civilian police oversight task force that made recommendations which resulted in the adoption of an ordinance establishing a new civilian police oversight model. "There is a problem with law enforcement's interaction with minority communities.". and our It l isted the main Naropa University address (2310 Arapahoe Avenue). Class 1 Professional Standards investigation for alleged violation of: document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); copyright 2023. The department issued a statement saying the "officer's decision to attempt to detain Mr. Atkinson was not supported by reasonable suspicion that Mr. Atkinson was committing, had committed, or was about to commit a crime, therefore he did not have authority to detain Mr. At one point the officer says, "you're probably going to get tased.". The vast majority of young black men who are shot and killed fall victim to other young black men NOT to police officers of any color. The (Professional Standards Unit) investigation resulted in a complete, thorough, impartial report package, the independent report reads. Boulder, Colorado police officer, John Smyly, noticed a black man sitting on a back porch step in a predominantly white part of town. During the 16-minute standoff, multiple officers politely and calmly asked Mr. Atkinson to drop the trash grabber and sit down so they could talk, the report read. Atkinson said he's had trouble sleeping since the incident. Details of the payment amount were included in the City Council agenda packet released Thursday evening ahead of its Tuesday meeting, and elected officials are being asked to approve the deal by the City Attorneys Office. Colorado police officer John Smyly who pulled his gun on Zayd Atkinson, a student at Naropa University picking up trash in front of his apartment building, has resigned. Answer (1 of 9): "What probable cause did police have when they attempted to investigate Zayd Atkinson, a student at Naropa University, when he was picking up trash outside of his dorm?" I wonder, Dear Questioner, why you believe "probable cause" is the standard needed for a police officer to st. "But I'm not surprised that this happened to me and I won't be surprised if it happens again tomorrow, or the next day, until we do something about it," he added. Hogwash! Other officers arrived on scene and a standoff ensued. An internal affairs investigation found the officer "did not have probable cause to charge Atkinson with any crime" and "should have ended his contact" as soon as Atkinson gave him his name and . Was there a perspective we missed, or facts we didnt consider? The officer eventually pulled out his gun and called for backup. The situation -- which was captured on video -- drew criticism for what student Zayd Atkinson said was an instance of racial profiling. Thats a gun, Zayd Atkinson said, according to the body camera footage. A Boulder police officer has resigned following a confrontation with a black college student who was picking up trash in his yard. Several officers responded, including a supervisor, according to the police department. RO=Responsible Officer, Rep=Representative. The settlement has been reported to be a sum of $125,000. He drew his handgun after Mr. Atkinson stopped behind the building out of sight of the street. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. He asked Smyly if he would fire the weapon if he didnt put the trash grabber down. A Naropa employee eventually arrived on scene and verified Atkinsons identity, and Atkinson was released with no charges. Up to this point, Mr. Atkinson had been polite but surprised by Officer Smylys presence, the independent report read. On March 1 Smyly stopped Atkinson while he was picking up trash next to the building he lives in using a pole and asked him numerous questions. Cookie Notice . The footage shows Smyly investigating Atkinson for trespassing. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. They said they didn't find any evidence of racial profiling. If you use that weapon against me then yes, that is a consideration, Smyly responded. May 17, 2019, 6:17 AM PDT. Resources for the homeless in Boulder, CO, Zayd Atkinson aspires to be a perpetual victim (Im not buying it). ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News . While the report said Atkinson was justified in his confusion and frustration, it said at no point in the entire incident did anyone use racial language, slurs or innuendo.. The Daily Camera reported that Lolotai left after his home address was posted publicly by activists. Fax: 303-578-4401. Zayd Atkinson was the subject of a viral video in which he was surrounded by 8 Boulder Police officers, some of them brandishing firearms, as he was picking up garbage outside of his home. Per Boulders charter, settlements over $10,000 have to be OKd by city council. (credit: CBS) According to the police report, Smyly asked Atkinson . HuffPost reports that Officer John Smyly violated two department policies when confronted Zayd Atkinson, including public trust and conduct. Smyly said he was concerned Atkinson might have been trespassing. Officer Smyly, an Anglo male, decided to question why Zayd Atkinson was there. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. The Boulder Police Department says the rules that were violated were conduct and violation of police authority and public trust. "If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. "I couldn't help but notice you sitting on the patio out there," officer John Smyly says in the video. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Throw me some cash if you've got it so I can keep you informed. Zayd was the first adult male to become a Muslim and the only Muslim apart from Muhammad to be mentioned by name in the Quran. Bodycam footage of the incident emerged and sparked outrage. 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. On March 1, he tried to detain 26-year-old student Zayd Atkinson in his front yard. May 16, 2019 / 5:17 PM An internal affairs investigation found the officer "did not have probable cause to charge Atkinson with any crime" and "should have ended his contact" as soon as Atkinson gave him his name and address. . Newly-released body camera video shows how it all started. All Rights Reserved. While no one was arrested, the police department launched an internal affairs investigation, and the city hired an outside investigator to review the incident.. Your email address will not be published. The encounter led to allegations of racial profiling and police misconduct. Lawrence's arrest came later and with less fanfare. The community member is being identified as he was previously publicly identified. Atkinson was detained by Smyly for further investigation and he made a call for backup. Hundreds of people marched Sunday to the Boulder Police Department, passing near the site where an officer detained 26-year-old Zayd Atkinson on March 1. This is incredibly frustrating to watch. Mr. Atkinson raised his voice and yelled., Smyly said he felt threatened by the trash grabber. He drew his Taser and later transitioned to his handgun, both weapons were pointed in a downward direction in front of the officer., The subject officer said that he did not believe that the Taser would be effective, because Mr. Atkinson was wearing a heavy coat, the summary states. He found none. The statement did not release any terms of the settlement. Im picking up trash. . He said he gave the officer his ID and key card for the building, but the situation escalated as Atkinson refused to acquiesce when the officer ordered for him to sit down. Smyly also threatened to use his stun gun on Atkinson because he "had a weapon," referring to Atkinson's pole. Atkinson told the officer that he lived in the building and showed him his school identification card. New video shows moment Boulder officer pulled gun on black man picking up trash in own yard. Friday, March 13, 2020 (Updated Monday, March 16) The city of Boulder is offering a $125,000 settlement to Zayd Atkinson, the black Naropa student who was confronted by armed police officers last year while picking up trash outside his home. Boulder settlement with Zayd Atkinson to, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), CEO announces Saturday, September 17 is Colorado Dailys final issue, Boulder settlement with Zayd Atkinson to include $125K payment from city, Brought to you by Prairie Mountain Publishing, Marijuana: A wet blanket over your emotions, Former 'Family Ties' star Brian Bonsall remains a fugitive, No gay bar in Boulder? We also know from our experience that reliable, impartial internal affairs processes can be hard to come by. The officer eventually pulled out his gun and called for backup. The City is committed to learning from this incident and moving forward to become a safer, more . Scroll down for video "It was a frightening experience. The police internal investigation concluded Smyly violated department policy during the encounter with Atkinson, and the independent report backed those conclusions, saying Smyly made some pivotal mistakes including asking for Atkinsons date of birth when he was not entitled to that information and mistakenly believing he had reasonable suspicion that a crime was occurring. Atkinson was allegedly racially profiled by a Boulder Police officer for picking up trash on his own property. Mr. Atkinson and the City are settling any potential claims arising from this interaction so that the parties may focus on the continued healing of both the community and Mr. Atkinson. "I'm just checking to make sure that you have a right to be here, that's all. 2701 Lawrence Street, Suite 100 Atkinison sued, and in March of 2020 he was awarded $125,000 in a settlement with the City of Boulder. In our review of (the sergeants) work, we did the same and confirmed there were no apparent racial disparities reflected in Officer Smylys number of stops, duration of stops, types of stops, reasons for stops, results of stops, use of (body-worn camera) during stops, or searches of people he stopped.. The incident sparked outrage as video of the encounter made the rounds on social media. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Naropa University student Zayd Atkinson speaks about being racially profiled by a Boulder Police officer for picking up trash with a wand on his own property. I thoroughly believe I was profiled," Atkinson said. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. Mr. Atkinson was picking up trash on his property and had not committed a crime. Nonetheless, Boulder established a new citizen oversight group and hired a moderator to serve as a liaison between the panel and the police department in matters of complaints. In the wake of the incident, Boulder City Council formed a committee to explore a police oversight committee. We should know where he is and if he's allowed to work as a cop or in a field that requires public trust. See Also: Police Chief Whitesplains Officers Pulling Gun On Black Man Picking Up Trash In His Back Yard. Telephone: 303-578-4400 Officers in the two cases resigned from Boulder Police Department. I asked Atkinson if he had anything with his address listed on it. The Boulder Police Department said it placed the first officer on administrative leave while it investigated the incident. Im sorry for what you went through, said councilwoman Nicole Speer. 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Video of the . Prolonged litigation will adversely impact those efforts. approval of past meeting minu Want more stories like this, delivered straight to your inbox? I felt obliged to set 'em straight:https://t.co/gcN55jMuun, homelessphilosopher (@homelessphilos1) September 12, 2019, (The police officer pictured above was not directly involved in contacting Zayd Atkinson, and when I questioned why he was shown I was told that its simply because he responded to a fellow officers call for backup.). When Smyly asked for more information, Atkinson refused and walked away. Name Age in 2023 Role From Until; 1: Abdalla, Raja Aulia Rezza : Rep: 2015-01-29: 2015-02-03: 2: Abdullah, Hugh Idris : By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I thought that once the firearm was out that that meant that he was going to try to kill me, Atkinson said on Good Morning America in April. [ Pasco County Sheriff's Office ] Nedra Miller . John Smyly, the Boulder, Colorado, officer who initiated contact with Zayd Atkinson that resulted in a tense interaction where several officers drew their guns, was allowed to resign. An independent review of the police investigation of an interaction between an officer and a black Naropa University student concluded the investigation met or exceeded standards and was right in finding no evidence of racial profiling. "This is an all-white community that has historically treated minority communities differently. In this undated photo provided by lawyer Siddhartha Rathod, Zayd Atkinson poses for a photo. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. The Boulder Police Department concluded an internal investigation on the March 1 incident when officers, two of them with guns drawn, confronted Zayd Atkinson.. Denver, Colorado 80205 The citysettled with Atkinson in March 2020 for $125,000. The city on Thursday announced the settlement but did not include the terms in a news release. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. Boulder and Zayd Atkinson, a black Naropa student who was confronted by a police officer while picking up trash outside his apartment, have agreed to settle any civil claims involving the incident. In addition to increased oversight, BPD revamped its use of force policies in August 2020. Had Officer Smyly understood the law, the contact would have ended without trauma, the report read. The ID displayed the name of Zayd Atkinson and contained a picture of the male I was speaking with, however, it did not list his address or date of birth. "I believe that this man had approached me because I'm a black male in an all white town. https://old.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/cijav8/officer_pulling_out_his_gun_on_a_student_outside/. 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'S pole a gun, Zayd Atkinson was picking up trash with a black college student who picking... Would be criminally charged Atkinson had been polite but surprised by officer Smylys presence, the report... Were conduct and violation of police authority and public trust and conduct Im not buying it ) front yard male. Minu Want more stories like this, delivered straight to your inbox sergeant for thoroughness, including a supervisor according! He 's had trouble sleeping since the incident reddit and its partners use cookies and similar to... Cases resigned from Boulder police Department 's interaction with minority communities differently Smyly asked Atkinson zayd atkinson officer name! Available at https: //t.co/Luru5y5XJk pic.twitter.com/1vquVsUp7u question why Zayd Atkinson said he felt by... For picking up trash on his property and had not committed a crime Atkinson! Scroll down for video `` it was a frightening experience me because I 'm checking!