Crime

Community Protests Killing of Sahleem Tindle by BART Police in West Oakland

Published

7 years ago

February 16, 2018

Family, friends and community members gathered Tuesday morning at the West Oakland BART station to protest the killing of 28-year-old Sahleem Tindle, who was allegedly unarmed and had his hands up, when he was shot and killed by a BART police officer.

Protesters are demanding the public release of the video of the Jan. 3 shooting, and that transit officer Joseph Mateu be held accountable for shooting Tindle. The Oakland Police Department, which is involved in the investigation, showed the video last week to Tindle’s family and their lawyer, but are refusing to release the video to the public while the investigation is continuing.

Yolanda Banks, mother of Sahleem Tindle

“They murdered my son. Joseph Mateu, the BART police, murdered my son, shot him in the back with his arms up, unarmed,” said Sahleem Tindle’s mother Yolanda Tindle, speaking at the rally.

“Our children are our irreplaceable treasure,” she said. “We will fight for them. I know you will fight for yours. Tooth and nail you will fight for yours. Tooth and nail I’m going to fight for mine.

“I have known many mothers in the same state of mind I’m in. I feel the pain, and the pain is crushing. We love our children, like you love yours.”
Civil rights attorney John Burris, who represents the family in a civil lawsuit, said the video footage shows Tindle was standing with his hands up, unarmed and with his back to the officer, when Officer Mateu shot him three times.

The incident started when Tindle and another man began fighting across the street from the BART station, according to Burris. The two men were tussling and wrestling with each other when the officer ran up.

The video showed the officer saying, “Show me you’re your hands, show me your hands,” Burris said.

“Within moments,” Mateu shot Tindle in the back three times,” said Burris. At the time of the shooting, the officer could not have seen a weapon of any kind, said Burris.

According to an official statement, Tindle ignored the command to drop a handgun, which led to Mateu firing his weapon.

Rally for justice for Sahleem Tindle, Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the West Oakland BART station. Photo by Ken Epstein.

A handgun was discovered at the scene, Burris said, but the officer had no way of knowing about the gun when he shot Tindle.

According to a legal claim filed this week against BART, Tindle had shot the other man in the leg before he was killed.

“Regardless of what happened before, at the time he shot and killed this young man, he did not have sufficient evidence to justify it,” Burris said. “It should be prosecuted. As to what level of

prosecution it is, that’s for the DA, but I certainly would start with murder.”

According to an OPD statement on the shooting, released on Jan. 4:

“The officer observed two males in a struggle with each other; one of the men possessed a handgun. After several commands were given, the officer discharged his firearm striking the man who was in possession of the handgun; he later succumbed to his injuries. Investigators are attempting to clarify how the other man, who was listed in stable condition and has since been released from the hospital, sustained his injuries.”

Tindle had two children, an 8-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter, according to his mother.

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Activism

‘Donald Trump Is Not a God:’ Rep. Bennie Thompson Blasts Trump’s Call to Jail Him

“Donald Trump is not a god,” U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., told The Grio during a recent interview, reacting to Trump’s unsupported claims that the congressman, along with other committee members like vice chair and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, destroyed evidence throughout the investigation.

Published

10 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Congressman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. Courtesy photo.

By Post Staff

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said he not intimidated by President-elect Donald Trump, who, during an interview on “Meet the Press,” called for the congressman to be jailed for his role as chairman of the special congressional committee investigating Trump’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021, mob attack on the U.S. Capitol.

“Donald Trump is not a god,” Thompson told The Grio during a recent interview, reacting to Trump’s unsupported claims that the congressman, along with other committee members like vice chair and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, destroyed evidence throughout the investigation.

“He can’t prove it, nor has there been any other proof offered, which tells me that he really doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” said the 76-year-old lawmaker, who maintained that he and the bipartisan Jan. 6 Select Committee – which referred Trump for criminal prosecution – were exercising their constitutional and legislative duties.

“When someone disagrees with you, that doesn’t make it illegal; that doesn’t even make it wrong,” Thompson said, “The greatness of this country is that everyone can have their own opinion about any subject, and so for an incoming president who disagrees with the work of Congress to say ‘because I disagree, I want them jailed,’ is absolutely unbelievable.”

When asked by The Grio if he is concerned about his physical safety amid continued public ridicule from Trump, whose supporters have already proven to be violent, Thompson said, “I think every member of Congress here has to have some degree of concern, because you just never know.”

This story is based on a report from The Grio.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 11 – 17, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 11 – 17, 2024

Published

5 days ago

December 13, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Outgoing D.A. Pamela Price Releases Report on County Gun Violence Epidemic

The 84-page report is divided into two parts: the Public Health Impact of Violence and the Contribution of Structural Inequalities; and the Public Safety Impact of Gun Violence and the Regulation of Firearms. Each section documents trends in rising gun violence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with special attention to the rise in gun-related deaths of women and children in Alameda County. Each section advises innovative approaches for the County to address gun violence and build safe communities.

Published

1 week ago

December 8, 2024

Oakland Post

Exclusive interview with County D.A. Price days before recall election. Photo by Ken Epstein.

Pamela Price was recalled in the election on Nov. 5. File photo.

By Post Staff

Criminal Justice Reformer District Attorney Pamela Price, who is leaving office this week after losing a recall election, released a comprehensive report on the gun violence epidemic and public health emergency in Alameda County: “Tackling Gun Violence Epidemic in Alameda County: A Public Health Emergency (2019-2023).”

This report represents an unprecedented collaboration between public safety and public health partners and provides data and recommendations to guide the County’s continued work to reduce violence while advancing justice reform.

Each section documents trends in rising gun violence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with special attention to the rise in gun-related deaths of women and children in Alameda County. Each section advises innovative approaches for the County to address gun violence and build safe communities.

“Between 2019 to 2023, an average of three residents were killed by firearms each week in Alameda County, and behind every statistic is a shattered family and community,” said Price.

“Under my administration, the DA’s office has taken bold steps to combat gun violence while promoting equity and healing for survivors,” she said.

The report highlights strategies for keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people. Last month, the DA’s office secured a $5.5 million grant from the California Judicial Council to help improve compliance and case management for gun cases and gun relinquishment orders —the removal of guns from people prohibited from possessing a firearm – with law enforcement and court partners.

This effort builds on Price’s work in 2023 and 2024 in attacking the gun violence epidemic.

“We launched an innovative Gun Violence Restraining Order Outreach Project to educate communities about the availability of tools to remove guns and ammunition from people who are a danger to themselves and others and the intersectionality of domestic violence and gun violence and convened gun violence roundtable conversations with our law enforcement partners and collaborated with the Alameda County Public Health Department to produce this comprehensive report,” she said.

“We supported Oakland’s CEASEFIRE program through its transition and implemented a pilot Mentor Gun Diversion Program with our collaborative court partners, offering non-violent youth in possession of a gun pathways to interrupt the potential for escalating harm.” added Price.