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. Wake up to the day's most important news. 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. After about eight minutes, more officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. ", 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. The shooting was one of the deadliest . 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. Atkinson said he did and gave Smyly his Naropa student ID. This was a temporary, non-enforcement job with no public contact or representation. Newly-released body camera video shows how it all started. According to a summary of the investigation released by Boulder police, Officer John Smyly was conducting extra patrols on March 1, 2019, in the area of Folsom Street and Arapahoe Avenue when. We would immediately lose our jobs.. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. After about eight minutes, more officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. We have concluded this hire was not helpful to our equity work, and I wish to inform you of the resolution to the issue. One of the other officers arrived with a handgun drawn but holstered it, while another had a stun gun drawn. Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. The former Boulder police officer who resigned after pointing a gun at a Black Naropa student has agreed to leave his temporary civilian position with the Boulder County Sheriffs Office after complaints from the Boulder County NAACP chapter. 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. Venus, the moon, Mars, and Jupiter are all visible in the eastern sky above Lake Michigan before sunrise June 23, 2022, in Chicago. 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. ", 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. Atkinson, 26, said he believes Smyly should have been fired immediately. Smyly approached Atkinson on March 1 in front of the condo-style building, where he was using a metal tool with a claw at its base to put trash into a bucket, according to the new footage. "Well I believe that this man had approached me because I'm a black male in an all-white town," Atkinson said later. The Boulder Chapter of the NAACP, which emailed the Camera about the hire, decried Smylys hiring in a statement. Atkinson provided his school ID, which did not have an address and then offered to let himself into the building as proof. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. 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. The officer, John Smyly, resigned this week under an agreement with city officials who found he had violated department policies. 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.. Boulder Valley School District. We would immediately lose our jobs."In a statement, City Attorney Tom Carr said firing the officer, John Smyly, would have led to a drawn-out appeal and potentially allowed him to keep his job . 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. Concluding the investigation allows the city to release all of the information relating to the incident, allowing community members to form their own opinions based on all of the available information, Boulder City Attorney Tom Carr said in a statement. When Mr. Atkinson walked away, continuing to pick up trash, the subject officer believed he had probable cause to charge Mr. Atkinson for obstructing a police officer. Your hand is on your weapon and youre gonna shoot me, Atkinson shouted. Investigators found Smyly violated two department policies: police authority and public trust and conduct, the city attorney said. Boulder police said it could not support a claim of racial profiling in the encounter, but Smyly was found to have violated two department policies. 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. Watch Body Camera Video March 1, 2019 https://t.co/8NnfbXgMXX, Rae Ellen Bichell (@raelnb) May 16, 2019. Atkinsons attorney Siddhartha Rathod said he was disappointed Smyly was not fired and instead was allowed to resign and remain on the citys payroll until 2020. Boulder police said there is no evidence Atkinson was racially profiled. 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. After about eight minutes, more officers arrive and form a loose half circle around Atkinson. City officials said the investigation could not prove that the officer, John Smyly, acted because of Zayd Atkinsons race. DENVER (AP) A white Colorado police officer who pulled out his gun during a confrontation with a black man picking up trash around his dormitory resigned this week under an agreement that lets him collect $69,000 in salary despite violating department policies. 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. It takes a good days drive to cover Colorado, but well help you do it in a few minutes. Put that down, Smyly said on the tape. On the video, Atkinson responds by shouting: Thats a gun! Smyly told dispatchers Atkinson was failing to comply and had a blunt metal object, which resulted in eight officers and a sergeant responding to the scene. "My life right now is kind of restless, unsettled," he said. Our staff spoke to John Smyly yesterday concerning the controversy over his temporary position here. A person can also be heard telling Atkinson he was likely racially profiled, but police determined that was said by the Naropa employee, not any of the officers. 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. TwoFeather. 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.. The footage shows Smyly investigating Atkinson for trespassing. The Moving can be an exciting experience. I found this video of John Smyly, whom I met personally in Japan in 2003 and dont think hes a racist, reason why I decided to make this video. 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. 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 tries to make his victim sit like a dog, for no reason other than to assert dominance over him. 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 submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. Smyly told the department he could not tell what race Atkinson was when he first saw him. Pelle added the decision was very difficult because Smyly didnt violate any policies and has been a very productive, pleasant employee. Smyly will leave as soon as possible, once the projects hes working on are complete, with a departure deadline of the end of the year, according to Pelle. The subject officer should have ended his contact with Mr. Atkinson as soon as Mr. Atkinson provided his name, address and a brief explanation of what he was doing.. but it can also be stressful. Listen now. 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. He did not mention the incident in his resignation letter. We can help you keep up. Tracking the Chicago Blackhawks moves before the NHL trade deadline. Im picking up trash! John Smyly was found in violation of department policies and resigned in May 2019 after an internal investigation into Smylys encounter with Zayd Atkinson in Boulder on March 1, 2019. If you or I were to do this, we would be criminally charged. The US economy is sending mixed signals. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado. This was very difficult because John has not violated any policies here and has been a very productive, pleasant employee. Thats what youre gonna do, officer? Cubs pitcher Drew Smyly is introduced at the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago, Jan. 13, 2023, in Chicago. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. The former Boulder police officer who resigned after pointing a gun at a Black Naropa student has taken a temporary civilian position with the Boulder County Sheriffs Office. 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. pleasant employee. Stop!. It's like Live PD, except actually live, and without the \"cops can do no wrong\" bias.music in this videoLove Is Blind (Instrumental Version) - Coma Svenssonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u78BBpHcz44Wasted Education - Blue Topazhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqmKzeeDj54 The iconic deep dish chain is focusing on expanding its franchise restaurants. "Shouldn't that be enough for you?". You can read the full agreement below. He said he has had trouble sleeping and spends time outdoors or with friends to calm him. Video of the incident from Smyly's body camera shows him detaining . and I wish to inform you of the resolution to the issue, Our staff spoke to John Smyly yesterday concerning the controversy over his temporary position here. "I will not sit down, I refuse to sit down, until you guys put your (expletive) weapons away," Atkinson said. One officer can be seen holding a rifle; the investigative summary says the weapon fires bean bags. Smyly decided to approach Atkinson on foot, and saw that he was using a long metal claw to pick up trash and put it in a bucket. Finally, police confirm his story by asking someone else if he does, in fact, live there. Atkinson repeatedly said he had not done anything wrong. 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.. 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. When he refuses to ID the way the cop wants him to, John Smyly escalates the situation. Read more here. (Facebook . Newly-released. John Smyly, a former Boulder Colorado Police officer detains a man, Zayde Atkinson with no RAS. Boulder Police Officer Resigns After Confronting Black Man Picking Up Trash, News That Matters, Delivered To Your Inbox. 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. Gen Z Voices: Attending school on a tribal reservation, and outside of it, led Aidan Gover to discover the disparities in education. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream, a black man confronted by a Boulder police officer. Here's what else is happening today. but it can also be stressful.

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