Bucks' John Henson Says He Was Victim of Racial Profiling at Jewelry Store

Bucks' John Henson Says He Was Victim of Racial Profiling at Jewelry Store

NBA center had police called on him for looking at a watch.

Published October 20, 2015

All John Henson wanted to do was look at a watch in a jewelry store.

Instead, the Milwaukee Bucks center became the victim of racial profiling.

Henson detailed the entire event via a lengthy Instagram post, describing the incident at the luxury jeweler Schwanke-Kasten in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, that led to police officers being called.

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

The store owner, Thomas Dixon, told ESPN that the incident was all a misunderstanding, one in which police were called over a misunderstanding about Henson's vehicle. Whitefish Bay Police had advised the store to call police if they saw a Chevrolet Tahoe, like Henson's, after one parked outside the store recently had questions about stolen plates. Police also claim the store had been previously robbed, so everyone was on high alert.

Dixon claims to regret how the situation was handled.

"We all agree that racial profiling is never acceptable and deeply regret how the circumstances unfolded Friday and today," Dixon told ESPN, adding that he wants to apologize to the Bucks center.

The Bucks wrote in a statement: "Nobody should be treated that way. We are trying to contact the store directly."

BET Sports News — Get the latest news and information about African-Americans in sports, including weekly recaps, celebrity news and photos of your favorite Black athletes.

(Photo: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Written by Mark Lelinwalla

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