Milwaukee Bucks big man John Henson posted an Instagram picture on Monday afternoon that alleged racial discrimination against jewelry store Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers in Whitefish Bay, Wis.
Here's the photo:
Here's Henson's message that accompanied the photo:
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.
WISN12 News contacted Thomas Dixon, the owner of the store, who said the actions were not racial profiling, but related to the dealer plates on the car Henson was driving:
Dixon said the store has had three armed robberies in 18 months, and one of the suspect vehicles involved is from the same dealership as Henson's vehicle. Dixon said when employees saw the vehicle with dealer plates, they became suspicious based on the previous robberies.
Whitefish Bay police released a statement providing additional details on the situation. According to the release, store employees were concerned due to recent phone calls to the store and thefts of Rolex watches at an area store. When police made contact with Henson, he informed them he played for the Bucks and officers relayed that message to store employees, who then opened the door. Via WTMJ:
"The officer called dispatch to request that a Schwanke-Kasten employee come to the front door. The employee told the dispatcher to have the officer come to the back door. After my officer informed the Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers employee that it was a Milwaukee Buck, the employee came to the front door and let them in. The employee requested that an officer stand by as they looked at the Rolexes, our officers refused and left the store. The officers then left the area."
Here is the complete release from the police department, via Deadspin.