Nasser Almasmari (left) speaks through an interpreter about his experience with a Hamtramck police officer during a traffic stop. He was being interviewed by a reporter for WXYZ-TV Channel 7.
By Charles Sercombe
A police complaint brought to light by Councilmember Saad Almasmari raised a number of concerns this week.
Almasmari relayed a message from Nasser Almasmari (it was unknown at press time if he is related to Saad) who claimed a Hamtramck officer pulled him over for an expired license plate and impounded his car.
The alleged incident happened while his family, which includes his two sons, ages 10 and 2, and two daughters, ages 2 and eight months, and his 8-month pregnant wife, were in the car. The man claimed they were forced to walk home on Jan. 3 while the temperature was below zero.
He said he asked the officer for a ride home, but the officer refused, even though it was dangerously cold out.
Almasmari concluded, saying: “When we got home all of us got sick because of the weather. I’m asking you as voter, are we really being treated as human or animals in this city? As many people I know we feel like we are not welcome to live in Hamtramck. What happened to us will never be forgotten by my family. Do we need to protest against the police officers who are worrying only about their paychecks?”
The alleged incident prompted over a dozen responses, mostly from Bengali-Americans and Yemeni-Americans who accused Hamtramck officers of being prejudiced.
The incident also was reported on by a TV reporter for WXYZ-Channel 7.
One respondent on Saad Almasmari’s Facebook page, Tarek Baydoun, who says he is an attorney, also accused Mayor Karen Majewski of being a racist, to which she replied: “That’s bullsh**.”
Acting City Manager Kathy Angerer weighed in, asking Councilmember Almasmari to have the family contact her so she could set up a meeting with Police Chief Anne Moise.
Councilmember Almasmari, who is running for state representative in the district that includes Hamtramck, declined the offer, saying: “An issue like this doesn’t get solved with a meeting with police chief. We have been telling you many stories like this and the police promised us to do something and done nothing. The guy has an attorney you can talk to. I posted this story because I know nothing will happen if we talk to the city.”
That prompted Mayor Majewski to question Almasmari what his “solution” was if he didn’t want to arrange a meeting.
Almasmari did not reply.
The Review reached out to Chief Moise who said:
“There are aspects of this case that were not shared on social media. In the meantime, I am looking into the matter and gathering facts of the incident,” Moise said. “However, at this time, I have not heard back from the family involved.”
A police source who is familiar with police procedures, said the officer should have driven the family home or at the very least to the police station.
Nasser Almasmari, a Yemeni immigrant who does not speak English fluently, went to Tuesday’s City Council meeting and spoke through an interpreter to tell his story.
The council asked for the police chief to look into the matter.