Dispatch recordings show that Richland school board candidate Misipati Semi Bird called local dispatchers 20 times in a recent 12-month period to report people— juveniles, he presumed— parked near his house, drinking or playing loud music.
He called one group “thugs” and on multiple occasions urged police to issue citations for offenses that included trespassing. In all, four people were cited as a result of his 20 calls. They ranged in age from 15 to 23. All four were Latino.
Obtained under the Washington Public Records Act based on questions circulating in the community, the recordings shed new light on a Nov. 2, ballot contest that has drawn little media attention so far.
Bird, a consultant and a decorated Iraq war veteran who is Black, is running against Elizabeth Vann-Clark, a teacher turned technical writer, for Richland School Board, Position 3.
His calls may shed light on the leadership, communication and management style he would bring to the district if elected, as he helps set policy for a district of more than 13,000 K-12 students.
On the campaign trail he’s said his leadership and management skills, as well as priorities of accountability and transparency, would be his calling card. Among other things, he would treat employees with the “respect that they deserve.”
The call recordings show that he tried to pull over a pickup truck that he felt had almost run him off the road. Another time he accused a dispatcher of lying to him. He also alleged a lack of service from the Richland police, asking a dispatcher if the department was “giving me the finger.”
In a complaint to the Richland Police Department last December, he said that because of police failure to respond as he’d hoped to his 911 call about reckless driving, he’d decided to arm himself. “I do not believe that the RPD has the capability to protect the citizens of Richland.”
Most of his calls centered on people disturbing his family in their recently built home on a private road that has a nice view. Recordings show him calling about loud music, littering and drinking. In the calls he repeatedly offered to confront the trespassers himself, at one point saying, “I have firearms.”
Bird told the Observer that the calls were appropriate.
“We built our dream house,” he said, “and people are trespassing on our property, drinking, and keeping us awake at night with their noise.”
Asked about the youth who were cited, Bird said it was not his job to take them by the hand and fix their problems. He added, “I’m a firm believer in remediation. As a system, what can we do to get people on the righteous path?”
He did not respond to a follow-up email asking for additional perspective on specific calls he made to dispatchers.
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT
Bird started a management consulting business after working at the Department of Energy and Washington State University.
He purchased land in Richland on March 6, 2020, and began building a home on it that year. The property sits on a private road with five other houses on a hill with a view of the Tri-Cities.
Most of the calls obtained by The Observer concerned Bird’s new home. One, however, occurred on Dec. 16, 2020, before he moved in.
“I’m following a truck,” he told the 911 emergency dispatcher. “He just hit me and he won’t pull over.”
It was 6:28 p.m. Bird told the dispatcher he was pursuing the Chevy 1500 that had “hit” him in the Queensgate/Columbia Trail roundabout. He began relaying the truck’s location and license plate number for police to respond, and again complained that the Chevy would not pull over.
The recording picked up the muffled sound of Bird, perhaps having driven up alongside the Chevy, exchanging words with someone: “I’m on the phone right now with 911,” Bird could be heard saying.
Returning to the dispatch call, Bird said, “He is driving away. He is exceeding the speed limit right now … He just said ‘F- you, you effing loser,’ and wouldn’t stop.”
Bird then acknowledged he wasn’t certain the other vehicle had hit him.
“I haven’t even checked for damage. If he missed me, it’s a blessing — and I’m driving a $95,000 car, so…” he added with a chuckle.
Bird told the dispatcher the Chevy had pushed him out of his lane, adding “When I was a police officer, we used to call that reckless endangerment … or driving recklessly.”
“I really appreciate you,” he told the dispatcher. “You did a fantastic job…. Thank you for what you do.”
WRITTEN COMPLAINT
Bird struck a different tone later that day in a complaint to the Richland Police Department.
“I’m very disappointed with the RPD and will now have to arm myself,” he wrote, “because I do not believe that the RPD has the capability to protect the citizens of Richland.”
“If I wasn’t so close to completion of my $2 mil home, I would relocate to another city.”
Records provide additional details about the police response and incident. According to computer-aided dispatch notes from Dec. 16, an officer in the area told the dispatcher that they had been “unable to respond (in person) due to a priority shooting,” but left a voicemail for Bird to call back in the morning.
The next day, on Dec.17, Bird confirmed to an officer that his initial claim of having been “hit” by the truck was incorrect, dispatch records show. Bird told police “he took his car to a shop and determined that there was no hit and run but he had hit a curb,” according to a report.
Asked in a Sept. 25 email what evidence the police could have used to cite the other driver, Bird did not reply by press time.
CALLS ABOUT NEW PROPERTY
Records indicate that Bird’s calls to dispatchers about trespassers near his new home began more than a year ago.
Under Washington law, police can respond to calls about private roads just as they do calls about any private property.
According to dispatch records:
In September and October he called three times about people parking on or near his property. The crimes he alleged included trespassing, vandalism, littering, drinking and “lewd conduct.”
On November 24, 2020, at 9:36 a.m. Bird called to report that $1500 worth of tools had been stolen from a locked trailer on the construction site. A Richland police officer investigated but closed the case the same day, writing “leads exhausted,” according to the dispatch notes.
Police documented extra patrols on Nov. 25 at 1:09 a.m., Nov. 25 at 1:21 a.m. and Nov. 28 at 2:00 a.m.
The calls continued: on the afternoon of Dec. 20, he called dispatch about a white Prius on his private road playing music.
· In the early afternoon of April 3, 2021, at 1:37 p.m. Bird called dispatch to report a vehicle at the end of his driveway..
· At 6:09 p.m. on April 29, 2021, Bird called dispatch to report a vehicle in his private driveway, adding that in the past, tagging and littering had occurred in the area.”
A CALL ABOUT “THUGS”
On May 1, 2021, records show, Bird called dispatch twice starting at around 5:30 a.m. in the morning about a car he said was blaring loud music.
“I apologize for the inconvenience,” he told the dispatcher when they told him he should have called the non-emergency number.
Eleven minutes later, however, he called back, expressing impatience and saying he hadn’t seen a police car respond, according to dispatch records.
“Yes, I called not too long ago for police support. We have trespassers who are blaring loud music on our private road and our driveway. There are booze bottles and everything. I have firearms. What do I do as a citizen when the police department can’t handle this stuff?”
The dispatcher responded that it appeared police had already responded to the area.
“Okay I’m walking outside of my house right now and I’m going to approach these people based on what you just said,” Bird replied.
The dispatcher urged him to not approach the car, saying “I did not recommend anything like that, and did not tell you to do anything like that. I don’t think putting yourself in any type of harm’s way is-“
“Oh no, ma’am,” Bird replied. “I’m a former Special Forces green beret. I’m not in any harm’s way and I’m very proficient with protecting myself and my family. I don’t see an officer there, so is he driving an invisible car?”
“I’m still looking at the people, the thugs, parked out in front,” he said. “And I don’t see any police cars.”
He added, “You tell me there’s a cop here, and where the hell is it?
Bird told the dispatcher to give his name to police Capt. Chris Lee as well as John Bruce: “He’s the chief of police in case you’re not aware.”
The dispatcher replied, “I am.”
“I want an answer, I want an answer,” Bird continued. “What is my police department doing, giving me the finger and saying ‘No we’re not going to do a damn thing to help you out? Citizen you help yourself out.’”
“The first lady said there was an officer here. Which was a lie. And now you’re saying there’s a police officer in the area.”
The dispatcher replied, “There’s an officer dispatched.”
“He just pulled up. I’ll take care of it myself.”
CALLS CONTINUE
On May 15, 2021, Bird called at 2:44 a.m. and then again at 2:53 a.m. about loud music. According to the police report, an 18-year-old male was cited for trespassing and being a minor in possession of alcohol. An 15-year-old male juvenile, cited for trespassing, was referred to the prosecutor’s office.
On May 17, 2021, Bird filed to run for Richland School Board director. The calls continue.
On May 17, 2021, after 10:30 p.m Bird called dispatch three times in a seventeen-minute period about people on his private property being noisy and drinking out in public, according to dispatch records.
According to the call record, “RP back on the phone and is demanding that subjs are given a citation and trespassed.”
According to the recording, Bird said he assumed such trespassers are juveniles, because “most civilized adults” wouldn’t be out drinking on someone else’s property at that time of night.
Again, he offered to go confront the presumed youths: “I’m a Special Forces Green Beret. I have no problems taking care of people on my property.”
The officer cited a 20-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman with trespass. The officer reported “Subjects were not drinking but admitted to listening to music.”
On May 22, 2021, at 8:09 p.m. Bird call about young people speeding on a nearby public road drew the following reaction from the officer who responded: “No apparent crime, will provide XP [extra patrols] as time allows.”
He made one call each in May, June and September complaining of music, trespassing or illegal parking. The times of the calls ranged from 8:23 p.m. to 10:44 p.m.
Officers who responded to the first two calls said the cars either had gone or left when police arrived. For the third the officer reported that the driver of the vehicle said they were “hanging out, checking out the view. Moved along without issue.”
FACEBOOK COMMENTS
On his Facebook page, Bird has repeatedly stressed his commitment to bring accountability and “transparency” to the Richland school board. On Sept. 20, based on public records requests filed for this blog, Bird posted that he had been “targeted” by a “left-wing progressive blogger,” adding that he “probably” was targeted because “of the color of my skin and my message. My message runs counter to the progressive narrative that we live in a systemically racist city.”
He added in a video, “We’re going to stand true to our message to hold our school board accountable, to bring true visionary leadership to the Richland school board, and to assure accountability within the Richland school district; to ensure that parents have a voice, that students are heard and that our Richland school district employees are being engaged, being supported and being treated with the respect that they deserve.”
(Disclosure: The author is a member of the board of the National Women’s Political Caucus – WA which has endorsed Bird’s opponent.)
(Update: The date Bird filed to run for School Board has been corrected. The Observer regrets the error.)
What a story! It appears that he has problems.
Why is race mentioned in this article?
Maybe you could rewrite this article not being concerned about the color of ones skin. I did notice however you didn’t point out the white woman (Elizabeth Clark). That is not important to the article unless you are race baiting.
While I may not agree with his tactics your story points out he is within his rights to call about people on his private property. So that shouldn’t have been included either.
Most of your article doesn’t speak of anything he did wrong. It would seem a conclusion could be drawn that he lacks tact and wants kids to learn to be responsible and respectful. OH NO. Can’t have that. You aren’t going to marry him. I think the idea is to find someone who will guide kids. I dont know enough about him to say one way or the other if he would be good.
I can say I expect to see all the 911 calls on all the candidates in your next article.
Before I published the article I wrote Mr. Bird with several questions including this one: “In one dispatch call, on May 1, you said a dispatcher had lied to you. You also alleged a lack of responsiveness by Richland Police Department, asking if it was ‘giving me the finger.’ In your opinion, what should voters’ takeaway be from your interactions with dispatchers and police?” I received no response. After the article was published I reached out again to Mr. Bird in an email, ” “If you have anything that you would like to add or find any inaccuracies, please let me know.” Again, no response.
Thank you for contacting me, Randy Slovic
It was Semi Bird himself who brought up race, not this publication.
Hi Anna, I appreciate your comment. Thank you for reading the Observer. Randy
So, to be perfectly clear, he he says he assumes the trespassers are juveniles, but suggests as a green beret, he has no problem “taking care” of people on his property. And he’s running for school board? Yikes.
How would I verify this information? I assume the police dispatch is public record, maybe? Is there a website where we can access or does one need to request specific records?
Thanks, Mary
For public record requests for police reports from the City of Richland go here: https://richlandwa.govqa.us/WEBAPP/_rs/(S(j2hr4sgup1h5ty3qzw12yyii))/SupportHome.aspx
For police dispatch records and dispatch calls, go here: https://www.bces.wa.gov/bces-public-records
I don’t disagree with Bird’s frustration. Clearly this man has worked hard to get where he is and wishes to provide the best life he can for his family. We have a right to protect our life, liberty, and property, for which he called on local law enforcement and did not get the service he expected.
Frequently dealing with the disrespectful nature and lack of consideration of many people from today’s younger generation should motivate nature leaders to want to make positive change. How better than to get involved at one of the primary stages of development (that would be our schooling system) that is to shape tomorrow’s leaders?
Before I published the article, I contacted Mr. Bird with a number of questions including this one: …”you said that on the basis of the non-response to that Dec. 16 call, you had decided to arm yourself, and ‘If I wasn’t so close to completion of my $2 mil home, I would relocate to another city.’ Do you think having a weapon would have changed how you were able to respond to the near-collision you reported on Dec. 16?” I received no response from Mr. Bird. After I published the article, I reached out again to Mr. Bird in an email, “If you have anything that you would like to add or find any inaccuracies, please let me know.” Again, no response.
Thank you again for contacting me. Randy
Great hit piece- now do his opponent and look in her closet – her anti law enforcement stance might be of interest
I just heard a distres citizen, not being help. His voice gives it away that he is a man of color. poor people in that home. I wonder if he has been taunted because he is trying to get elected? You can hear he was insecure of how to handle the situation because he doesn’t have the support other people have in his situation. God help us. he wants to help his family but is concerned of the outcome, likely a judgment against him and not the perpetrators. help was stalling for sure
Interesting that you think there is systemic racism in our community but Mr. Bird does not.
Spun and twisted to cast him in a bad light because he is a conservative that happens to be black. If he were a democrat, all this would have been cast in a positive way to exonerate him.
Hi Ty, I appreciate your comment. Thank you for reading the Observer. Randy
Why is “Black” capitalized when describing someone’s skin color?
“Bird, a consultant and a decorated Iraq war veteran who is Black, is running against…”
Hi Eric, I appreciate your comment. I use the AP style in my articles and capitalize Black when used in a racial, ethnic, or cultural sense. The lowercase black is a color, not a person. Thank you for reading the Observer. Randy
Randy’s bio is insightful, especially her support for a one-time segregationist and anti-semite Ernest Hollings. She is a life-long Democrat and her hit pieces on any Republican should be taken with a grain of salt.
https://tricitiesobserver.com/about-randy-slovic/
This post of hers is weak tea and smacks of Uncle Tomming Semi Bird, the same way Democrats and their “news” repeaters tried to smear Senator Tim Scott.
https://news.yahoo.com/tim-scott-reacts-uncle-tim-135648817.html
The Tri Cities Observer allows this partisan hackery. The disclosure at the bottom of the post that Randy is a member of a Woman’s group that endorsed Reichert is intended to mislead readers into thinking she’s with Reichert. As a lifelong Democrat she is doing nothing more than attacking anyone not a Democrat. Her goal here is to deceive. Does anyone believe that she’s not for Ferguson, despite the disclosure that implies she’s for Reichert?
Hi Corgi9825,
I appreciate your comment but I think you are very confused. The article about Semi Bird that you cite was written before the 2021 election when he was running against Elizabeth Vann Clark for Richland School Board. At that time, 2021, the National Women’s Political Caucus — WA, that only endorses women, endorsed Vann Clark. Neither I, nor any group that I am a member of, has endorsed Reichert. In addition I believe that my Jewish and Black co-workers in Senator Holling’s office would disagree with your characterization of him.
The documents that I collected for my article let Semi Bird speak for himself.
Thank you for reading the Observer.
Randy Slovic