NBA Player Alleges Racial Profiling At Jewelry Store

Milwaukee Bucks power forward John Henson called the incident "degrading."

Milwaukee Bucks' John Henson is calling out a high-end jewelry store for alleged racial profiling after he was refused service and then confronted by police in the parking lot.

In an Instagram post shortly after the alleged Monday afternoon incident, the 24-year-old power forward called the ordeal "one of the ... most degrading and racially prejudice [sic] things I've ever experienced in life" and noted that he "wouldn't wish this on anyone."

Henson wrote that when he tried to enter Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers in the Milwaukee suburb of Whitefish Bay, employees locked the door on him and told him to go away. Henson noted he was trying to make a purchase during regular business hours.

A few moments later, Henson said a pair of police cars pulled up and watched him from a distance for about five minutes. He said he suspected the store had called the cops on him.

In a statement released Monday, the Whitefish Bay Police Department confirmed that officers had been responding to a call from an employee reporting "suspicious activity." The employee said someone had been calling the store asking what time they closed. The store's Milwaukee location had been burglarized in the past, police said.

Henson said two officers then questioned him about his car, which he said he drives as part of an endorsement deal with a local Chevrolet and Cadillac dealership.

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 .

A photo posted by @johnhenson31 on

Police said that the employee asked officers to stay while Henson shopped, but that they declined.

Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers President Tom Dixon said in a statement on Monday that there was "no excuse" for the way Henson was treated.

"I hope to see him again to personally apologize," Dixon said.

Earlier this month the Bucks signed Henson to a four-year, $44 million extension that could increase to $48 million with incentives.

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