ALAMEDA — The city has announced that an independent consultant will investigate the arrest of a Black man who was dancing in the street.
Police officers stopped Mali Watkins, 44, after a caller told a dispatcher said she was concerned about his mental state because of the way he was physically acting in the street in the 2000 block of Central Avenue.
Watkins told police that he was dancing and exercising, something he did regularly, according to body camera footage from the officers.
When Watkins told officers, who wanted to continue questioning him, that he lived in the neighborhood and was leaving, they detained him, forced him to the ground and handcuffed him. He was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor resisting or obstructing police.
The two main officers involved in the arrest, Officer Harris Smiler and Officer Anthony Buck, have been assigned to administrative leave for the duration of the investigation, according to the city.
The investigation and any report generated from the investigation is confidential under state law, according to the city.
The arrest of Watkins, which nearby residents witnessed and complained about to the police at the scene, came just two days before the death of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Floyd’s death has prompted demonstrations across the country from people demanding changes in how police interact with people of color, including on June 11 in Alameda, where protesters cited the arrest of Watkins as an example.
Alameda police Chief Paul Rolleri requested an outside investigator, and Alameda City Manager Eric Levitt said he agreed with the call on June 6.
Attorney Alfonso Estrada, who will be conducting the investigation, is a partner with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo out of Pasadena and has “significant experience in conducting outside independent administrative investigations pertaining to police officer activities, which include use-of-force incidents,” according to a city statement.
He has conducted investigations for the Beverly Hills police and fire departments, Anaheim, the Alhambra Police Department, Colton, the Loma Linda Fire Department and the Fresno Fire Department.
City officials did not say when they expect the investigation to be completed. The cost of hiring Estrada was not immediately available.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
