Tempe Police Chief, Mayor, 2 Cops Named In Racial Profiling Case
by Brian A. Wilkins
6/3/2009
Tempe Police Chief Tom Ryff, Mayor Hugh Hallman, Officer Tyler Watkins, and Sergeant Jon Waide were served summonses last week after Dr. Araya Wolde-Giorgis filed a complaint in Maricopa County Superior Court.
Wolde-Giorgis, an Ethiopian American, alleges that Officer Watkins pulled him over on February 17, 2008, solely because of his race. Watkins also threatened Wolde-Giorgis by continually placing his hand on his pistol, the complaint alleges. Wolde-Giorgis was told he was being issued a “left turn violation” citation, but discovered a second citation, “turn signal violation,” once he got home and obtained his reading … Read Entire Article