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Cop suing Raptors' Masai Ujiri for 'assaulting him' at 2019 Finals files a motion to dismiss countersuit and likens the NBA exec's 'potential' threat to the Munich Olympics terrorists

  The police officer who sued Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri for assault following their shoving match at the 2019   NBA   Finals is ...

 The police officer who sued Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri for assault following their shoving match at the 2019 NBA Finals is defending his own actions by saying he only offered 'gentle physical guidance' because the 50-year-old NBA executive ignored his instructions and 'potentially' posed a threat like the 'terrorists at the [1972] Munich Olympics.'

On Monday, the attorney for Alameda County (California) deputy Alan Strickland moved to dismiss Ujiri's counter lawsuit, which was filed in August and contained potentially exculpatory police body camera footage showing the officer instigating the physical altercation on the Oracle Arena court in Oakland on June 13, 2019.

The incident took place immediately after the Raptors captured their first NBA title with a Game 6 win over the Golden State Warriors. While attempting to walk onto the court to celebrate with his players, Ujiri was stopped by Strickland, who asked to see his credential. 

On Monday, the attorney for Alameda County (California) deputy Alan Strickland (pictured) moved to dismiss Ujiri's counter lawsuit, which was filed in August and contained potentially exculpatory police body camera footage showing the officer instigating the physical altercation on the Oracle Arena court in Oakland on June 13, 2019
The police officer who sued Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri (pictured) for assault following their shoving match at the 2019 NBA Finals is defending his own actions by saying he only offered 'gentle physical guidance' because the 50-year-old NBA executive ignored his instructions and 'potentially' posed a threat like the 'terrorists at the [1972] Munich Olympics'

The police officer who sued Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri (right) for assault following their shoving match at the 2019 NBA Finals is defending his own actions by saying he only offered 'gentle physical guidance' because the 50-year-old NBA executive ignored his instructions and 'potentially' posed a threat like the 'terrorists at the [1972] Munich Olympics .' On Monday, the attorney for Alameda County (California) deputy Alan Strickland (left) moved to dismiss Ujiri's counter lawsuit, which was filed in August and contained potentially exculpatory police body camera footage showing the officer instigating the physical altercation on the Oracle Arena court in Oakland on June 13, 2019

The incident took place immediately after the Raptors captured their first NBA title with a Game 6 win over the Golden State Warriors. While attempting to walk onto the court to celebrate with his players, Ujiri was stopped by Strickland, who asked to see his credential

The incident took place immediately after the Raptors captured their first NBA title with a Game 6 win over the Golden State Warriors. While attempting to walk onto the court to celebrate with his players, Ujiri was stopped by Strickland, who asked to see his credential

Security footage shows cop shoving Masai Ujiri first
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In Monday's filing, Strickland's attorneys explained what threats their client was facing when the Ujiri attempted to walk onto the floor following Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals in Oakland

In Monday's filing, Strickland's attorneys explained what threats their client was facing when the Ujiri attempted to walk onto the floor following Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals in Oakland

Although the two were seen pushing each other, Strickland's attorneys claim their client offered 'gentle physical guidance' to  Ujiri because the NBA executive ignored instructions

Although the two were seen pushing each other, Strickland's attorneys claim their client offered 'gentle physical guidance' to  Ujiri because the NBA executive ignored instructions 

Ujiri, who had the credential in his hand rather than around his neck, was then shoved by Strickland as he attempted to present the identification.

In Monday's filing, which refers to Ujiri's credential as 'invalid,' Strickland's attorneys explained what threats their client was facing when the Raptors President attempted to walk onto the floor.

'… as is self-evident from the video, had Deputy Strickland not employed force, he would have risked having the suspect not only trespass onto the court, he would have risked the suspect quickly getting lost amid the growing crowd of folks authorized to be on the court, and potentially committing any number of possibly serious crimes,' read Monday's filing, obtained by the Daily Mail.

'After all, this was a high-profile sporting event, which entailed a risk of crimes ranging from vandalism to assaults on players (e.g., the 1993 fan's stabbing of tennis great Monica Seles), assaults on coaches (e.g., the 2002 assault of Royals Coach Tom Gamboa by two fans), player-fan brawls (the 2004 brawl involving numerous fans and players at the end of a Pistons-Pacers NBA game), and even mass murder or terrorism (e.g., the mass murder of Israeli athletes by terrorists at the Munich Olympics).'


The 1972 Munich Games were marred by a Palestinian terrorist attack that resulted in the deaths of 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team.

The filing goes on to describe the incident from Strickland's point of view.

'But just as Mr. Ujiri had completely ignored the private security official, he completely ignored Deputy Strickland's words, gesture, and attempt at gentle physical guidance,' read the filing. 'To prevent him from circumventing security, Deputy Strickland thus shoved him, while unequivocally ordering him to 'back the f*** up!'

'Undeterred, Mr. Ujiri, again tried to barge past while claiming to be the Raptors' president, and while still refusing to show either Deputy Strickland or the private security official whatever credential he possessed. Deputy Strickland, who simultaneously was being pulled backward by an unknown, shouting man, thus shoved him a second time.

'Still – rather confer with the private security officer or Deputy Strickland, or even permit them to inspect his credentials – Mr. Ujiri assaulted Deputy Strickland.

'Mr. Ujiri then proceeded to celebrate and give an interview.'

The memorial to commemorate the 1972 Palestinian terror attack at the Munich Olympics one day before its inauguration, seen on September 5, 2017 in Munich, Germany. The memorial is located near the former Olympic village in a park and stands partially submerged with the ground. Members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) killed 11 Israeli athletes and one German policeman at a botched intervention attempt by German authorities following the kidnapping of the athletes by the terrorists at the 1972 Olympic Games

The memorial to commemorate the 1972 Palestinian terror attack at the Munich Olympics one day before its inauguration, seen on September 5, 2017 in Munich, Germany. The memorial is located near the former Olympic village in a park and stands partially submerged with the ground. Members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) killed 11 Israeli athletes and one German policeman at a botched intervention attempt by German authorities following the kidnapping of the athletes by the terrorists at the 1972 Olympic Games

Neither Ujiri or Strickland's attorneys immediately responded to the Daily Mail's request for comment in response to Monday's filing.

Strickland previously sued Ujiri for $75,000 in federal court, claiming the Raptors President assaulted him.

Security video and Strickland's police body cam footage included in the countersuit filed Tuesday shows the deputy first grabbing Ujiri by the jacket and yelling at him to 'back the f*** up.'

The team released a statement in August saying the security video proves Ujiri 'was not an aggressor, but instead was the recipient of two very violent, unwarranted actions.'

Ujiri's counterclaim also includes statements from three eyewitnesses who say he did not punch the deputy, although the video does show him shoving Strickland in retaliation.

The NBA executive's attorneys also dispute one of Strickland's supporting eyewitnesses, who claimed to be standing near the arena's north tunnel at the time of the incident. The altercation is proven to have taken place near the south tunnel.

Strickland (left) stopped Ujiri (near right) following Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, sparking a physical altercation between the two

Strickland (left) stopped Ujiri (near right) following Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, sparking a physical altercation between the two

Security video shows that it was Strickland - and not Ujiri - who initiated contact. Strickland is seen grabbing Ujiri's jacket and shoving him

Security video shows that it was Strickland - and not Ujiri - who initiated contact. Strickland is seen grabbing Ujiri's jacket and shoving him

Ujiri was not displaying his credential around his neck, but was shoved by Strickland as he attempted to show it to the deputy (pictured)

Ujiri was not displaying his credential around his neck, but was shoved by Strickland as he attempted to show it to the deputy (pictured) 

In the countersuit, which includes the NBA and the Raptors' parent company as plaintiffs, Ujiri's attorney calls Strickland's initial claims 'a complete fabrication.'

Strickland, who was part of the security detail for Game 6, has stated that Ujiri did not show proper credentials to enter the area of the court and struck the deputy in the face and chest when asked to produce them.

However, the footage contradicts several of the claims in Strickland's original lawsuit.

Not only was it Strickland, and not Ujiri, who initiated contact, but the Raptors president is seen holding his credential in his hand — a fact that was already established by photographs available in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

'After being shoved and cursed at, Mr. Ujiri did not respond aggressively towards Mr. Strickland,' read the countersuit. 'Instead, he calmly asked Mr. Strickland why he had pushed him, informed Mr. Strickland he was the Raptors' President, and held up his all-access arena credential to show it to Mr. Strickland. Rather than trying to communicate with Mr. Ujiri, Mr. Strickland chose to dismiss Mr. Ujiri's claim that he was the Raptors' President and ignore the all-access credential Mr. Ujiri was trying to show him. Mr. Strickland then forcefully shoved Mr. Ujiri a second time.

Masai Ujiri assembled the 2018-2019 Toronto Raptors team that won the NBA Finals

Masai Ujiri assembled the 2018-2019 Toronto Raptors team that won the NBA Finals  

'Only after being unjustifiably told to 'back the f*** up' and shoved twice did Mr. Ujiri show any response and return a shove to Mr. Strickland's chest. Mr. Ujiri's defensive response was a reasonable and justified reaction to Mr. Strickland's use of unnecessary and excessive force.'

Strickland and his wife, Kelly, have been seeking a jury trial and damages greater than $75,000, along with medical and incidental expenses (both accrued and in the future), loss of earnings, prejudgment interest, property damage and legal fees. Strickland claimed he 'suffered injury to his body, health, strength, activity and person, all of which have caused and continue to cause Plaintiff great mental, emotional, psychological, physical, and nervous pain and suffering.'

Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern did initially request that Ujiri be charged with batter of a peace officer for striking Strickland's jaw and shoulder. Ultimately the Alameda County District Attorney's Office declined to press any charges against Ujiri, who was celebrating his first NBA title in the aftermath of that Game 6 win.

In his countersuit, Ujiri says Strickland falsely tried to portray him as 'the initial aggressor and an inherently violent individual.'

The Raptors continued to support Ujiri in a team statement released in August: 'We are mindful this remains before the courts, but we have always maintained that the claims made against Masai are baseless and entirely without merit. We believe this video evidence shows exactly that — Masai was not an aggressor, but instead was the recipient of two very violent, unwarranted actions.'

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