To refresh your memory, the city of Omaha held a parade in honor of native son Terence Crawford on Saturday, Sept. 27, to celebrate Crawford’s historic win over Canelo Alvarez.
For some, the celebration continued far into the night at the Steelhouse, a concert hall where Crawford was feted on his 38th birthday. A number of local dignitaries were present including Omaha’s mayor, John Ewing, a close friend of Crawford.
Crawford left the Steelhouse with three of his buddies a few minutes after 1 am. As they exited the parking garage, the car that Crawford was driving attracted the attention of two police officers riding in a squad car. Crawford was driving a dark 2025 Lucid Sapphire, billed as the fastest production sedan in the world, capable of going 0-60 mph in under 2 seconds. The car had no license plate (common in the case of a newly purchased vehicle).
The Steelhouse is located in an area with many bars in the vicinity. Nebraska law prohibits the sale of alcohol after 1 am. It’s normal for police to be canvassing this area after “last call,” especially on a weekend.
The police stopped Crawford’s vehicle at 1:27 am. The officer that approached the vehicle from the driver’s side would later testify that Crawford appeared to be traveling at twice the speed limit. However, the radar wasn’t on, so Crawford would be issued a citation for reckless driving rather than speeding.
The interaction was cordial until the officer spied a firearm on the floorboard under Crawford’s feet. Crawford and his passengers were then ordered out of the car at gunpoint and handcuffed. The man in the front passenger seat, Qasim Shabazz, Crawford’s head of security, volunteered that he was in possession of a firearm as he exited the car. He wore the gun on his hip.
The handcuffs were removed after approximately 10 minutes, Crawford was ticketed, and the crew then continued on its way.
The only member of the foursome to comment publicly on the incident was Shabazz. He said, “I thought we were getting ready to lose our lives” and that the officer who drew his weapon was “unhinged.” Ironically, Shabazz teaches a class in how a person stopped by the police can de-escalate the situation.
Mayor Ewing, who said he was heartbroken when he learned of the incident, promised a thorough investigation with full transparency. Ewing had served 25 years on the Omaha police force before entering politics. He retained police chief Todd Schmaderer although Schmaderer had supported Ewing’s rival, three-term incumbent mayor Jean Stothert, in the May 2025 mayoral election.
Chief Schmaderer and Mayor Ewing held a press conference this past Monday, Oct. 6. It isn’t known if Terence Crawford was invited but it’s a moot point as he was in Saudi Arabia.
The officers, said Schmaderer, acted in conformity with department policy. He addressed the rumor that Crawford was specifically targeted by noting that the officer who approached the driver’s side had no knowledge who was behind the wheel until Crawford handed over his driver’s license. (Had the car had a license plate, the officer could have obtained this information before he approached the vehicle.) Schmaderer also said that the occupants of the vehicle “all acted respectfully and compliantly” and there was no evidence of intoxication.
Chief Schmaderer also acknowledged the symbolism of the incident, namely that members of the African-American community are pulled over at rates disproportionate to their percentage of the population: “Unfortunately, that is generally true that you will see that nationwide.”
The firearms in the vehicle were legal. Two years ago, Nebraska enacted “LV 77” which allows any Nebraska citizen age 21 and over to lawfully carry a concealed weapon. In most states where this is allowed, the entitlement requires a state-issued permit, but not in Nebraska where the only proviso is that the weapon be purchased from a state-licensed dealer.
LV 77 makes police work more challenging, notes Schmaderer. Indeed, earlier on the same day that he addressed the Crawford incident, police were called to a convenience store on the far west side of Omaha where a man was acting erratically. When two policemen approached him, the man pulled out his gun, a shootout ensued, and one of the officers was shot in the head. The uninjured perpetrator, a black male, was due in court the next day on an unrelated charge.
“I certainly would be open to any attempt to repeal [LV 77] or to carve out an exemption for the city of Omaha or metropolitan areas,” says Mayor John Ewing.
P.S. – The officer’s injury wasn’t life-threatening. At last report, he was in good condition.
