Crime

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

Published

6 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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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

3 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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California Black Media

Anti-Theft Bill with Jail-Time Requirement Gets Wide Ranging Support

Fed up with the alarming frequency of retail theft across California, including smash and grabs, a diverse group of business leaders, law enforcement officials, policymakers and public safety advocates joined their efforts in Sacramento on Jan. 24. Their purpose: to increase public support for Assembly Bill (AB) 1772, a bill that would make jail time mandatory for repeat theft offenders.

Published

5 days ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

San Bernardino Police Chief Darren Goodman speaks as Asm. James Ramos (D-San Bernardino), left, stands beside him at a news conference in Sacramento concerning retail theft across the state.

By California Black Media

Fed up with the alarming frequency of retail theft across California, including smash and grabs, a diverse group of business leaders, law enforcement officials, policymakers and public safety advocates joined their efforts in Sacramento on Jan. 24.

Their purpose: to increase public support for Assembly Bill (AB) 1772, a bill that would make jail time mandatory for repeat theft offenders.

Co-authored by Assemblymembers James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) and Devon Mathis (R-Tulare), AB 1772 would require jail time “of one to three years for theft crimes depending upon the circumstances.

“Offenses would include grand theft, theft from an elder or dependent adult, theft or unauthorized use of a vehicle, burglary, carjacking, robbery, receiving stolen property, shoplifting or mail theft,” the bill language reads.

Ramos said the need to act is urgent.

“It’s time for us to reverse the spikes in theft crimes since the pandemic. Our law enforcement members and district attorneys need additional tools such as AB 1772. We must reverse the trend before the problem grows worse. Last year I requested a state audit of the impact of Prop 47 on Riverside and San Bernardino counties,” said Ramos.

Prop 47 is the California initiative, approved by voters in 2014, that reclassified some felonies to misdemeanors and raised the minimum amount for most misdemeanor thefts from $400 to $950.

According to a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) report, the rate of occurrence of petty crimes like shoplifting and commercial burglaries have increased by double digits over the last four years.

In Orange County alone, commercial burglaries have spiked by 54%.

“Our communities are experiencing an increase in retail crime and deserve appropriate action from their legislators,” Valencia said.

San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus thanked Ramos.

“This bill, designed to impose stricter penalties on serial retail theft suspects, responds urgently to the escalating consequences of shoplifting and related crimes on our communities,” he said.

AB 1772 supporters who spoke at the gathering included Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper and San Bernardino Chief of Police Darren Goodman. Listed as supporters are the California State Sheriff’s Association, City of Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez and Redlands Chamber of Commerce.