Deputy in clash with Raptors President Masai Ujiri has concussion: attorney
Posted June 18, 2019 4:32 pm.
Last Updated June 18, 2019 4:35 pm.
An attorney for a deputy involved in an altercation with Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri as he tried to join his team on the court to celebrate their NBA championship said his client suffered a concussion and is on medical leave.
Attorney David Mastagni said Tuesday the 20-year-veteran of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office has a jaw injury and is considering filing a lawsuit.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Ray Kelly says the deputy was checking court-access credentials after the game Thursday in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors when Ujiri allegedly shoved the deputy and Ujiri’s arm struck him in the side of the head.
A Warriors fan who witnessed the incident told The Associated Press that the sheriff’s deputy didn’t ask for any credentials before putting his hand on Ujiri’s chest and pushing him. Greg Wiener, a 61-year-old season ticket holder, said Ujiri then shoved the officer back before bystanders intervened.
Wiener said he was standing next to the officer when the encounter occurred but was not interviewed by authorities.
Kelly says investigators are questioning witnesses and the office hopes to file a report to prosecutors recommending a misdemeanour battery charge against Ujiri.
The team said last week it was co-operating with the investigation and gathering information on its own. It had no further comment Tuesday.
The name of the deputy has not been released.
