San Leandro Police Face Scrutiny Over Video Showing Officers Transporting Homeless Man to Oakland

Newly released body camera footage has revealed a December 2024 incident where San Leandro police officers transported a homeless man to another city and left him after a physical encounter.

The video shows officers Suzanne Mann and Ismael Navarro confronting 33-year-old Shaquille Coleman at a shopping center. After Coleman refused to identify himself, a physical struggle ensued between the officers and the man.

During the attempt to place Coleman in a patrol car, Officer Navarro was recorded grabbing Coleman’s braids to pull him into the vehicle. Coleman is heard in the footage questioning why his hair was being pulled.

Once Coleman was detained, Officer Mann noted there were no grounds for a criminal charge or psychiatric hold. She then proposed driving Coleman seven miles north to Oakland to prevent him from returning to the shopping area.

Lieutenant Antwinette Turner approved the plan to drop Coleman at a gas station, specifically selecting a location away from public transit. Footage shows Navarro returning the man's braids before the officers departed.

The incident came to light after Sergeant Mike Olivera discovered the footage during an internal affairs review. Olivera has since filed a nine-page complaint alleging he faced retaliation and discrimination for reporting the conduct.

San Leandro Police Chief Angela Averiett confirmed that a third-party investigation found policy violations. While corrective action was taken, specific disciplinary details for the involved officers remain undisclosed to the public.

Despite the findings of the investigation, Lieutenant Turner transitioned to a leadership role within the BART Police Department. She now serves as a deputy chief within the Progressive Policing and Community Engagement Bureau.

Police practices expert Rich Corriea criticized the lack of active supervision during the encounter. He stated that supervisors must provide guidance rather than remaining passive observers of misconduct.

Legal representatives for Olivera argue that the proper procedure should have involved a formal arrest and documentation. They contend the undocumented transport bypassed the standard legal system.