New evidence shows Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri getting shoved by a deputy after the Raptors won the 2019 NBA Finals, the Alameda County Sheriff’s office isn’t changing its stance on this matter. Initially, they accused Ujiri of being the aggressor in the incident but newly-released footage shows the opposite, with deputy Alan Strickland preventing Ujiri from joining his team to celebrate the championship, shoving him twice.
The video was released by Ujiri’s legal team as part of a countersuit against the deputy. The Raptors released a statement on Tuesday night, stating that the video shows their president “was not an aggressor, but instead was the recipient of two very violent, unwarranted actions.”
Raptors spokesperson on release of video footage involving team president Masai Ujiri and a Bay Area police officer in moments after end of 2019 NBA Finals: pic.twitter.com/sPq6y1tbw5
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 19, 2020
However, the Sheriff’s office is standing by the deputy, claiming that Ujiri was the actual aggressor, despite what the video suggests.
“We 100 percent stand by [the] original statement that was released that Mr. Ujiri is the aggressor in this incident,” the sheriff’s office said, per Stephanie Smyth of CP 24. “Don’t be quick to judge based off of what lawyers are saying.”
#UPDATE – Alameda County Sheriff's office tells @CP24 "We 100% stand by original statement that was released that Mr. Ujiri is the aggressor in this incident…don't be quick to judge based off of what lawyers are saying." @Raptors #Toronto
— Stephanie Smyth (@stephaniesmyth) August 19, 2020
A situation that could have been easily avoided has now escalated to these stages. It doesn’t look like Ujiri will be getting an apology from the Alameda County Sheriff’s office anytime soon.
While the Raptors are living great moments in the bubble, being 2-0 over the Brooklyn Nets, external matters are hunting their president.
