Police accuse Raptors president Masai Ujiri of assaulting sheriff’s deputy moments after NBA Finals victory - Toronto Star

A California county sheriff’s office will recommend charging Raptors president Masai Ujiri, one of the NBA’s most highly respected executives, with a minor assault for allegedly pushing a deputy sheriff who attempted to stop him joining the team celebrating their victory on the court.

Sgt. Ray Kelly, a spokesperson for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, said the officer did not know who Ujiri was and said the executive was not wearing his NBA credentials as he walked toward the court at Oracle Arena Thursday night.

Videos shared on social media showing the moments shortly before and after the altercation appear to show Ujiri holding his credentials in his right hand.

The officer “pushed (Ujiri) backward to get him away from the court and to get him away from the officer” and then asked to see his credentials “appropriately in a respectful way,” Kelly said.

Ujiri then pushed the officer out of the way to walk on to the court, Kelly said. “There was at least two pushes that also led to our deputy being struck in the head and face,” he said.

“It wasn’t an intentional punch; it was more of a shove where Mr. Ujiri’s arm contacted the deputy’s face,” he said.

Warriors fan Greg Wiener said on Twitter that Ujiri appeared to be pulling out his NBA pass when the police officer “put his hands on Ujiri to stop him going forward.”

Wiener told the Associated Press he was standing next to the officer when the encounter occurred and said the deputy didn’t ask for any credentials before pushing Ujiri. The 61-year-old season ticket holder said Ujiri shoved the officer back before bystanders intervened.

Wiener told the AP he was not interviewed by authorities.

The NBA and the Toronto Raptors say they are co-operating with California authorities.

NBA spokesman Mike Bass said Friday the league is in contact with the Raptors and authorities and gathering more information.

The Raptors said in a statement that the team is co-operating with authorities and looking into the incident. The team says it looks forward to resolving it.

The decision whether to charge Ujiri lies with the Alameda County District Attorney’s office. A spokesperson said in an email that they expect to receive the necessary information next week.

During a press conference at city hall Friday, Mayor John Tory, came to Ujiri’s defence.

After admitting that he haven’t seen any footage of the alleged incident, Tory suggested the incident was a misunderstanding.

“Masai is one of the finest people I know. I believe he’s incapable of uncivilized behaviour,” he said. “His personal qualities are beyond reproach.”

Kelly said that, rather than arrest Ujiri on international television, the department decided to take the “high road” and file a misdemeanour complaint to local prosecutors. He said the officer was not seriously injured in the alleged incident, but did complain of pain in his jaw.

Asked about the appearance of a well-known executive being held back from celebrating a historic win with the team he built, Kelly said optics were of no concern.

“There is a credentialling policy that the NBA has in place. Everybody from the top executives all the way down ... know that you must wear credentials to get on the court,” he said.

“We would expect more from a team president.”

A video published by NBC’s Bay Area affiliate appears to show the moments immediately after the alleged altercation. In it, Ujiri can be seen on the sidelines as several people step between him and a uniformed officer amid a heated exchange. One man can be seen motioning towards an officer and repeatedly saying “no.”

The video ends with Raptors veteran Kyle Lowry leading Ujiri to the court to celebrate the team’s 114-110 victory.

Kelly said Ujiri was also “verbally disrespectful” to the officer and used “profane language.”

Kelly said the sheriff’s office had been asked to help provide security during the NBA Finals and were instructed not to let anyone onto the court without proper credentials.

Kelly said they would be compiling a report, including witness statements, body-camera footage and other video of the incident, and handing it over to the Alameda County District Attorney’s office next week with a recommendation that Ujiri be charged with misdemeanour battery on an officer.

Ujiri boarded a plane back to Toronto after the game.

He later posted a photograph on Instagram Friday showing him at his daughter’s graduation. The photo is captioned: “made it back in time for another important celebration.”

Read more:

Raptors crowned NBA champions for first time in team history

‘6ix in six!’: Toronto takes Jurassic party to the streets as Raptors crowned NBA champs in historic win

What they’re saying about us: Masai Ujiri is basketball seer

With files from the Canadian Press and the Associated Press

Alyshah Hasham is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and court. Follow her on Twitter: @alysanmati

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June 14, 2019 at 10:17PM