Bucks’ John Henson Says Jewelry Store Racially Profiled Him, Locked Him Out

Milwaukee Bucks player John Henson claims he was a victim of racial discrimination.

In a lengthy Instagram post, the 24-year-old center/power forward wrote Monday that he went to Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers in Whitefish Bay, Wis., to look at a watch, but ended up being locked out and told to go away. The 6-foot-11 Henson says two police cruisers arrived shortly after, and the cops questioned him about his car — he has a dealer vehicle as part of his endorsement deal — and about “things that were just irrelevant to (Henson) being there just trying to shop at the store like a normal paying customer would do.”

Henson signed a four-year, $44 million extension with the Bucks this offseason.

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 Oct 19, 2015 at 11:56am PDT

Whitefish Bay Now spoke to Schwanke-Kasten owner Tom Dixon, who said “the Whitefish Bay Police Department had informed local business owners to be on alert, and the employees’ actions were in response to the police department’s warning.” Dixon did not say for what they were supposed to be on alert.

The jewelry store has since made all of its social media accounts private.

Thumbnail photo via Benny Sieu/USA TODAY Sports Images