Bucks' John Henson Alleges Racial Profiling at Wisconsin Jewelry Store

Milwaukee Bucks center John Henson said Monday that he was racially profiled outside a Wisconsin jewelry store, prompting an apology from the store owner, who called the incident a misunderstanding.

Henson posted an account of the encounter on Instagram, saying workers at the Whitefish Bay shop where he'd intended to look at a watch locked the door during normal business hours and told him to leave.

Henson, who is black, said he was then questioned by police officers about the vehicle he was driving and what he wanted to purchase. He called the incident "degrading."

 

Went to @schwankekasten jewelry today in White-Fish Bay during regular business hours . They locked the door and told me to go away . After I rang the doorbell twice everyone went to the back. No answered the door or told me what was going on. This was followed by two police cars pulling up and parking across the street and watching me for 5 minutes ( I assumed they were called by the store ) . I was then approached by 2 officers and questioned about the dealer vehicle I was in which is apart of my endorsement deal with Kunes country Chevrolet and asked me what I wanted amongst other things that were just irrelevant to me being there just trying to shop at the store like a normal paying customer would do . I told them I was just trying to look at a watch. He then had to go in the back and tell them to come out it was safe but this is after they ran my plates and I overheard them talking about doing more of a background check on the car. The employees finally came out of the back and proceeded to conduct business like they previously were as we walked up . This was one of the the most degrading and racially prejudice things I've ever experienced in life and wouldn't wish this on anyone . This store needs to be called out and that's what I'm doing . You have no right to profile someone because of their race and nationality and this incident needs to be brought to light and I urge anyone who ever is thinking of shopping here reads this and doesn't bring any business to this discriminatory place .

A photo posted by @johnhenson31 on Oct 19, 2015 at 11:56am PDT

Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers owner Thomas Dixon said the incident was a misunderstanding that had to do with Henson's vehicle, not his race. He also later issued a statement to multiple local media outlets, saying that the business regrets how the encounter unfolded and that he wanted to apologize personally to Henson.

Whitefish Bay Police issued a two-page statement detailing the department's recent interactions with the store and the officers' encounter with Henson. It said the department had advised the store to call police if a Red Chevrolet Tahoe like Henson's arrived there after one parked outside the store days earlier raised suspicions that its plates were stolen. It also said the store had previously been robbed and on Friday had closed down early after repeated suspicious calls about its closing time.

The officers were dispatched to the store Monday afternoon "as the Red Tahoe had returned," the statement said. The officers talked to Henson, including questioning him about the dealer plates on his Tahoe, then requested that the employees open the door, it said.

Henson said in his post that the car was part of an endorsement deal with a Chevrolet dealer.

The officers who questioned Henson never asked for his ID and left the area after the store reopened, according to the statement.

The Bucks released a statement Monday afternoon calling the incident "very troubling."

"Nobody should be treated that way. We are trying to contact the store directly," the statement said.

Dixon said in his statement Monday night, "We all agree that racial profiling is never acceptable and deeply regret how the circumstances unfolded Friday and today."

Dixon has reached out to the Bucks and hopes to sit down with Henson to "apologize for what he experienced," the statement said.

Henson was the 14th overall pick out of North Carolina in 2012. He signed a four-year contract extension with the Bucks earlier this month.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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