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. April 15, 2022, 9:13am. Smyly contacted Atkinson March 1 outside Naropa student housing at 2333 Arapahoe Ave. as Atkinson was picking up trash with a long metal claw. The city settled with Atkinson in March 2020 for $125,000. The City is committed to learning from this incident and moving forward to become a safer, more . The Daily Camera reported that Lolotai left after his home address was posted publicly by activists. 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. Smyly, a 14-year veteran of the department, resigned from active duty on May 16. 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. Why would you think that you could tase me? . 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. ), Want more stories like this, delivered straight to your inbox? According to Boulder Police Department, the officer approached Zayd Atkinson around 8:30 a.m. because he was in an area behind a 'Private Property" sign. He found none. 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. This is incredibly frustrating to watch. "Give him his ID back and we're outta here," one of the officers is heard saying. Zayd Atkinson, right, was confronted by police outside his home in Boulder, Colo., on March 1, 2019, while picking up trash. He then begins commands for the student to sit down on the pavement . 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. The Moving can be an exciting experience. Zayd Atkinson is a Black university student who was asked for identification by police to prove that he lived at his home while taking out his own trash. Atkinson was picking up trash outside his dormitory when a white police officer in Boulder, Colo., detained him in March, 2019. Name Age in 2023 Role From Until; 1: Abdalla, Raja Aulia Rezza : Rep: 2015-01-29: 2015-02-03: 2: Abdullah, Hugh Idris : "I believe that this man had approached me because I'm a black male in an all white town. Original Post: . An attorney for Atkinson called the agreement with the city of Boulder "ridiculous." "Boulder is essentially saying we're going to pay this officer and let him resign for threatening Zayd's life . Several officers responded, including a supervisor, according to the police department. BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - John Smyly, a Boulder police officer, has resigned after his department says he violated two rules when he questioned and followed a Naropa University student who was outside his home. Other officers arrived on scene and a standoff ensued. Boulder City Attorney Tom Carr and Atkinsons attorneys at Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC issued a joint statement on Thursday. Previous post: Report: Jessica Aldama died after stillborn delivery in homeless encampment, Next post: Guest opinion: The housing Boulder refused to build, Change made to existing documents, resolutions, or ordinances. 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 . Boulder Police Officer John Smyly quit the police force after an investigation found he violated department policy when he drew his gun and attempted to detain 26-year-old Zayd Atkinson in March . Additionally, the proper protocol would have been for the officer to walk away after Mr. Atkinson produced his student identification card and explained what he was doing. The City is committed to learning from this incident and moving forward to become a safer, more welcoming, and respectful place for all. If it aint broke, dont fix it, the report read. 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. The (Professional Standards Unit) investigation resulted in a complete, thorough, impartial report package, the independent report reads. . May 16, 2019 / 5:17 PM 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. The police department has also released all related body camera footage. Hogwash! Fax: 303-578-4401. 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. 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 Sheriff's Office after complaints from the Boulder County NAACP chapter.. John Smyly was found in violation of department policies and resigned in May 2019 after an internal investigation into Smyly's encounter with Zayd . That identification card, the same size as a driver's license or credit card, displayed Mr. Atkinson's name and photo. Lawrence, in a prepared statements. But with the question about which specific unit he lived in, Mr. Atkinson paused, looked around, and began to become exasperated.. Printed By: RAABP1, 05/14/2019 12:19 Page 4 R_CS3NC REPORTING . Video and reports of the incident, during which Atkinson was repeatedly asked for identification showing he lived at the property he was cleaning, made local and national headlines and led to the city revamping public oversight of Boulder Police Department. . 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. I didn't know what else to do besides, you know, to fight with my voice and to practice my rights, which were thoroughly being breached.". 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. Had Officer Smyly understood the law, the contact would have ended without trauma, the report read. 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 Boulder Police Department said it placed the first officer on administrative leave while it investigated the incident. Prolonged litigation will adversely impact those efforts. 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. It has historically had problems with minority communities," Rathod said. 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. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. During his interview, the subject officer stated that at this point, he was unaware of Mr. Atkinsons race, because he had only seen him from a distance and approached him from behind, the incident summary states. I was having very strange dreams and couldn't really sleep," Atkinson said. For more information, please see our The footage shows Smyly investigating Atkinson for trespassing. Officer Smyly, an Anglo male, decided to question why Zayd Atkinson was there. At one point the officer says, "you're probably going to get tased.". He and his lawyer, Siddhartha Rathod, spoke to "Good Morning . 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. Per Boulders charter, settlements over $10,000 have to be OKd by city council. When Smyly asked for more information, Atkinson refused and walked away. Body cam footage shows a School Resource Officer at a River Ridge High School threaten to shoot a student trying to leave campus on Dec. 17, 2019. Covering City Council and Sundry, with flair, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022 (Updated Tuesday, Jan. 4). Copyright 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. Backup officers who were called to the scene and led by a sergeant quickly determined that Mr. Atkinson lived in the building and was engaged in his work study job. The citysettled with Atkinson in March 2020 for $125,000. The Boulder Police Department says the rules that were violated were conduct and violation of police authority and public trust. Lawrences arresting officer, Waylon Lolotai, left BPD in September 2020 amid an investigation into social media posts that glorified the use of force against residents, for which he was placed on administrative leave. They said they didn't find any evidence of racial profiling. Hogwash! Mr. Atkinson was picking up trash. Mitchell Byars has been reporting for the Daily Camera since 2011, covering breaking news and courts. The independent report also echoed the Boulder police report conclusion that there was no evidence of racial bias on the part of Smyly. 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. 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); True life tales of a homeless man in Boulder, CO. "I couldn't help but notice you sitting on the patio out there," officer John Smyly says in the video. We also know from our experience that reliable, impartial internal affairs processes can be hard to come by. In a statement released on Thursday, The city of Boulder announced that an investigation found that Smyly violated two police department policies: On March 1, Officer Smyly approached Zayd Atkinson, 26, at his residence to investigate a possible trespass. Tunnel vision is a common affliction in internal investigations, especially when it conveniently allows police departments to avoid severe allegations like racism. All Rights Reserved. Click here to sign up for a weekly newsletter, from Boulder Beat. The officer eventually pulled out his gun and called for backup. Internal Affairs Investigation Case Number: IA2019-001. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Was there a perspective we missed, or facts we didnt consider? Finally, police confirm his story by asking someone else if he does, in fact, live there. "Not only that you know I'm a black man, I have dreads. Prolonged litigation will adversely impact those efforts. According to the police report, Smyly asked Atkinson if he lived there and Atkinson said he did, and provided his Naropa student ID. They unanimously approved the payout Tuesday. Atkinson. Im picking up trash and youre holding a gun.. "It definitely brings fear to my heart knowing that some people don't survive. Smyly had told the department he contacted Atkinson because of recent crime in the area but did not see what race he was when he first saw him. but it can also be stressful. "You're an idiot. I asked Atkinson if he had anything with his address listed on it. 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.. Video of the . Help make the Beat better. Your email address will not be published. The City of Boulder concluded the investigation into a March 1, 2019 incident involving an encounter between Zayd Atkinson and Boulder Police officers. We offer these observations so that the city does not take action that inadvertently and irretrievably breaks a system that did not need fixing.. Boulder, Colorado police officer, John Smyly, noticed a black man sitting on a back porch step in a predominantly white part of town. The incident sparked outrage as video of the encounter made the rounds on social media. Meanwhile, Zayd said talk is cheap. What happened to Officer John Smyly who resigned from BPD after illegal detention of Zayd Atkinson? The city is committed to learning from this incident and moving forward to become a safer, more welcoming, and respectful place for all.. A cellphone video shot by a neighbor that went viral in March showed Smyly holding his weapon amid the confrontation. The encounter led to allegations of racial profiling and police misconduct. We would immediately lose our jobs." A phone number for Smyly could not be located Thursday. 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. Such is the case of Boulder, Colo., police officer John Smyly over his interaction with Zayd Atkinson on March 1st this year. At the time I had a beard and I was wearing raggedy clothes.". A Naropa employee eventually arrived on scene and verified Atkinsons identity, and Atkinson was released with no charges. During this period, the subject officer repeatedly asked Mr. Atkinson to stop and advised him that he was obstructing a police officer. 0:24 - Zayd A. * Mr. Atkinson was repeatedly ordered to put down his "weapon" which was a trash grabber and plastic bucket. Though the (Professional Standards Unit) only investigates about three Class 1 cases a year, those cases will be handled under much less stress, and the risk of error due to time pressure and workload will be reduced, if trained support staff is ready when needed.. "He's at home being paid for racially profiling Zayd for illegally stopping him and for threatening his life.". I'm freaking picking up trash on my property which is where I live. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) A Florida man left paralyzed when a police officer shot him after mistaking his handgun for his stun gun filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the city, the officer and . Boulder is set to issue a $125,000 settlement payment to Zayd Atkinson, the black Naropa University student who was confronted by a now-former city police officer last year while picking up trash outside his school housing unit. Or mail cash/check/precious gemstones toP.O. He drew his handgun after Mr. Atkinson stopped behind the building out of sight of the street. 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.). Left after his home address was posted publicly by activists and I was wearing raggedy clothes..! 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