Incarcerated, police harassed for being Black in Daly City

Emergency press conference for justice for all Black and Brown warriors and Shaleem, who is still incarcerated, in front of Redwood City Courthouse, 400 County Center, Wednesday, June 6, 12 noon, co-sponsored by POOR Magazine and Idriss Stelley Foundation

by Tony Robles, Poor News Network

Daly-City-Police-logo-on-squad-car, Incarcerated, police harassed for being Black in Daly City, Local News & Views Lying to a cop or concealing the truth from one is the equivalent of assaulting a cop. Shaleem Tindle withheld his identity from cops for fear of the deadly consequences that face young men of color who encounter the police for even the smallest perceived or fabricated infractions.

Shaleem Tindle sits in jail in San Mateo, another young brother living the American nightmare of being young and Black, targeted and profiled by men covered in skin of cold blue. Shaleem was a passenger in a car which included his mother. Shaleem’s father was the driver. The family was traveling near the Cow Palace in Daly City, just over the San Francisco city line, when they were stopped.

You know the feeling – blinking red lights, siren, the cops taking their sweet time getting out – a moment of fear in knowing you are at the mercy of these men in uniforms that make for the most hideous of skin. It is a moment where you could die or be seriously hurt because your own skin is that of the people who are darker than blue.

You know you are at the mercy of these men in uniforms that make for the most hideous of skin. It is a moment where you could die or be seriously hurt because your own skin is that of the people who are darker than blue.

The family was pulled over. In the car were Shaleem and family members – father, mother, 13-year-old daughter, daughter in law and her child. An officer peered into the window of the vehicle and noticed that the child was not in a car seat. Shaleem’s mother informed the officer that the child’s mother had been in a car that stalled and that the family had picked her up and that there wasn’t room in the vehicle for the car seat.

An interrogation ensued with one of the three officers shining his light in the back seat of the car, then asking the driver, Mr. Reed, age 47, if he was on probation or on parole. Mr. Reed, husband, father and grandfather of those in the car, responded in the negative. The cop ran a check on his license and it came back with nothing outstanding.

Another officer asked Mr. Reed’s wife if she had a license, to which she responded, “I wasn’t driving.” Her license was in her briefcase in the trunk. She gave the cop her name. He ran a check and it came back clear. The cops then asked Shaleem his name. He responded by giving an alias.

The cops then asked Shaleem to get out of the car, an order with which he complied. He was told to put his hands behind his back.

Shaleem questioned why he was being ordered to do this. Shaleem was slammed in the back of the car where the police hit him in the face, the back of the head – all the in presence of his family. They threw him to the ground, put his hands behind his back, to which he responded by crying out, “You’re hurting me!”

Shaleem was then tazed. “Don’t hurt my child,” his mother cried out. Shaleem was told to get to his feet, but he was immobilized with excruciating pain in his chest, ribs and wrist. He requested to be taken to the hospital.

Afterwards, an officer ordered all the family members from the car, whereupon it was searched. Nothing was found.

Shaleem’s mother requested that the children be allowed back into the car, as it was cold outside. An officer was questioning the daughter, asking her for “the guy’s name,” her relationship to him and the spelling of his name. The officer was referring to Shaleem.

She responded that the young man’s name was Shaleem Tindle and that he was on probation. Several officers were dispatched. An ambulance was called and the family was told to get into the car and leave.

The family had been stopped initially for not having a child in a car seat, yet a ticket was not issued. Everyone had their seat belts on.

Shaleem is being detained with supposed holds on his immigration status and other excuses that are completely false. Shaleem’s family is desperately working to get him released from custody. You can help by contacting the San Mateo Police Department.

Words from the fierce mama of Shaleem Tindle, warrior Yolanda Banks: “There comes a time in the parent’s life, as well as the young adult’s life, that something will spark in their hearts that something needs to be done, through letters or phone calls. Because if they haven’t yet experienced it, someday they or their parents will.

“They should take this personally as to our children being put in the spotlight and clean swept right into the prisons, hospitals or graveyards. The destiny of the coming-on generation lies in our hands to bring about a change, according to the law and to be cautious when it’s not exercised by this generation.

All parents “should take this personally as to our children being put in the spotlight and clean swept right into the prisons, hospitals or graveyards. The destiny of the coming-on generation lies in our hands.” – Yolanda Banks

“If the system continues to build a negative portfolio on our children, then it will be accustomed to taking their lives and incarcerating them. Consider what is going on, how lawless cops are being woven into the fabric of this administration. Why don’t you do something about it?”

Tony Robles is co-editor with Lisa “Tiny” Gray-Garcia of POOR Magazine and its many projects. He can be reached at tonyrobles1964@hotmail.com.