CURRICULUM VITAE

WATANI S. U. TYEHIMBA, CPP, CCDI

Board Certified in Security Management & Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigator

 

 

 

 

 

TYEHIMBA SERVICES, INC. (TSI)                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Updated:  November 4, 2007

 

2616 Old Wesley Chapel Rd., Ste. 105 - Decatur, GA 30034 - 404- 288-6075 - Fax: 404- 288-8786 Đ www.tyehimba.com - watani@tyehimba.com

 

 

 

EXPERIENCE

 

TYEHIMBA SERVICES, INC.(TSI), DECATUR, GA.
President/CEO, Consultant & Private Investigator 1989 to Present

 

 

  • Specializing in Criminal Defense & Mitigation in Capital Cases and Negligence Investigations for the Plaintiff. Analyze police, forensic and autopsy reports. Locate and interview witnesses; witness background investigations; photograph and video crime scenes and wounds; reconstruct crime scenes and shooting incidents; prepare declarations and reports; process service; testify and assist attorneys during trial.
  • Qualified and testified as an expert witness on firearms-related evidence and the reconstructive aspects of crime scenes and shooting incidents for the Superior Courts of Georgia.
  • Adjunct private investigator instructor at DeKalb Technical College, Clarkston, GA since 1998.
  • Faculty member for both the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council and the Georgia Capital Defender.
  • Advisory Board Member for the Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council.
  • Executive Protection detail leader and trainer.
  • Corporate and private consultations, i.e. Security Surveys, Risk Analysis, Loss Prevention, Workplace Violence, Emergency Planning, Crisis Management, and Computer Fraud.
  • Served as a Subject Matter Expert for the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies, 1998 & 2006.
  • Served on the Board of the Georgia Association of Professional Private Investigators, 1999. Member of the Education and Training Committee.
  • Firearms and self-defense instructor. Specializing in issues regarding to the use of force & forensic firearms evidence.
  • Has performed criminal defense and plaintiff investigations for numerous Georgia based attorneys. Many of them have been high profile cases. Some examples: Georgia vs. Ray Lewis, member of investigative team, Attorneys Tony Axam, Akil Secret and Ed Garland; Georgia vs. Jamil Al-Amin, court appointed lead investigator for Attorneys Jack Martin, Bruce Harvey, Tony Axam and Michael Warren; Georgia vs. Tommy Wright, court appointed lead investigator for Attorneys Jack Martin and Michael Mears; Georgia vs. Jeffrey Ray Sharp, court appointed special investigator for Attorney Michael Mears; Georgia vs. William Lewis, court appointed lead investigator and mitigation specialist for Attorney Sandra Michaels; Georgia vs. Stacey & Brandon Patterson, consultant and expert witness on forensic firearms evidence and crime scene reconstruction for Attorneys Max Richardson and Robert Walker; Georgia vs. Raymond Mark Jenkins, court appointed lead investigator for Attorneys Ricky W. Morris, Jr. and Greg Futch; Georgia vs. Devine King Thomas, court appointed lead investigator for Attorneys Thomas McKee West and Barry Hazen. The above cases ended with an acquittal or produced positive results for our client.
  • Georgia vs. Kerwin Summage, lead investigator for Attorney Alan Baverman (currently a Federal Judge), this work contributed to overturning a wrongful conviction.
  • Lead investigator in the guilt / innocence phase of a habeas corpus proceeding for GeorgiaŐs Death Row inmate William Marvin Gulley, Attorneys Michelle Worrel and Susan Schwegman. The Georgia State Supreme Court overturned Mr. GulleyŐs death sentence in 2005.
  • Georgia vs. Kamau Sadiki aka Freddie Hilton, lead investigator for Attorneys Akil Secret and Terri Thompson. This was one of the first Fulton County Cold Cases tried in 2002 in collaboration with the FBI and the post 911 newly formed Department of Homeland Security.  Kamau Sadiki, a member of the New York Black Panther Party and an alleged member of the Black Liberation Army was accused of the murder of Atlanta Police Officer James Green in 1971.  
  • Currently court appointed lead investigator for: Georgia vs. Frederick Gude, Attorneys Dwight Thomas and Thomas McKee West; Georgia vs. Demetruis G. Willis, court appointed lead investigator for Attorneys Akil Secret, Tony Axam and Anna Blitz; Georgia vs. Brian Nichols, court appointed lead investigator for Attorneys Henderson Hill, Jake Sussman, Penny Marshall and Robert McGlasson; Georgia vs. DeKelvin Martin, court appointed lead investigator for Attorneys Mike McDaniel and Maurice Kenner. All of these are high-profile multiple count capital death penalty cases.
  • Also currently Lead Investigator and Mitigation Specialist for Georgia vs. Chiman Rai, Attorney Jack Marin. This is a Fulton County Cold Case where the District Attorney is seeking the Death Penalty.

 

 

AFRIKAN INSTITUTE OF MARTIAL ARTS, DECATUR,GA.
Co-founder/Head Instructor 1972 - Present

 

 

  • Co-created and developed a martial arts system entitled Kupigana Ngumi-The New Afrikan Combat System. This is an eclectic system that can be tailored to security and law enforcement personnel, as well as the individual seeking basic skills in personal protection.

 

 

EVANS SECURITY TRAINING ACADEMY & RANGE, COMPTON, CA.
Position: Instructor, Supervisor, and Private Investigator 1982 - 1989

 

 

  • Taught the State of California approved Security Firearms, Powers to Arrest, Use of Force and Report Writing classes.
  • Taught Security Officer, Firearms, Self-Defense, CPR & First Aid classes for Compton Community College.
  • Developed and implemented two NRA approved Security Firearms Qualification Programs.
  • Instructed adults and youth in the NRA Home Firearms Safety and Personal Protection Programs.
  • 1984 -1989 worked as an apprentice investigator in order to qualify for private investigators license

 

 

 

LEGAL INVESTIGATOR AND PARALEGAL
Law firms in California, Illinois, Michigan and New York.

 

 

  • From 1979 to 1989, assigned by the National Task Force for COINTELPRO Litigation & Research as a paralegal/investigator to attorneys Lewis Meyers and Stuart Hanlon. Performed investigations and researched the FBIŐs COINTELPRO program in preparation of various appeals filed in California Supreme Court on behalf of Elmer Geronimo Pratt.  Mr. PrattŐs murder conviction was overturned on May 29, 1997.  The work performed was a contributing factor to Mr. PrattŐs vindication.
  • From 1979 to 1981, was a member of the Coalition Against Police AbuseŐs investigative team that disclosed illegal spying by the Los Angeles Police DepartmentŐs intelligence division, (PDID) against Los Angeles based community grassroots organizations.  This investigation resulted in the ACLU wining a multi-million dollar class action lawsuit on behalf of individuals and organizations.
  • Starting March of 1986, worked for attorneys Chokwe Lumumba, Jonathan Lubell, Michael Warren and currently Teri Thompson, doing investigations and research on the political and legal defense of Dr. Mutulu Shakur, currently serving a sixty-year Federal Prison sentence under the RICO statue. In 1990, traveled to Zimbabwe as an investigative member of the legal team pursuant to Rule 35 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, for a sentence reduction and for other related relief. Specifically, the court sanctioned a trip to determine the possibility of the government of Zimbabwe taking custody of Dr. Shakur, allowing him to serve his time there and use his medical background to assist them with their health issues. The current work involves parole and various appeal issues in regards to Dr. ShakurŐs case.

 

 

EDUCATION/TRAINING & PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

 

2001

THE CRIMINAL DEFENSE INVESTIGATION TRAINING COUNCIL
Certificate: Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigator

 

 

 

 

1998

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INDUSTRIAL SECURITY
Certificate: Certified Protection Professional, #8107(Board Certified in Security Management)

 

 

 

 

1997

GEORGIA BOARD OF PRIVATE DETECTIVE & SECURITY AGENCIES
License: Private Investigation & Security Company, #9001442
License: Classroom & Firearms Instructor, #000790

Registered: Private Investigator & Security Officer, #043182  

DEKALB TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, CLARKSTON, GA.
Certificate: Private Investigator Course, 90 hours

 

 

 

 

1988

STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Certificate: Private Postsecondary Education Instructor

 

COMPUTER LEARNING CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CA
Diploma: Computer Systems and Programming

 

 

 

 

1985

NRA SECURITY FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR DEVEVELOPMENT SCHOOL, COMMERCE, CA
Certificate: NRA Security Firearms Instructor
Certificate: Sharpshooter

 

STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
Certificate: Security Firearms Instructor, HA 000419

 

 

NRA FIREARMS EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR
Certificate: IHA-Home Firearm Safety, IVA-Personal Protection (ID-ARM9699W, current)

 

KUPIGANA NGUMI (THE NEW AFRIKAN COMBAT SYSTEM)

TRANSCENDENTAL KARATE
Certificate: 5th Degree Black Belt

 

 

 

 

1983

AMERICAN RED CROSS
Certificate: CPR & First Aid Instructor

 

 

 

 

1981

RIO POLICE ACADEMY/COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WHITTIER, CA
Certificate: Administration of Justice; 200 hours, GPA 4. 0
Certificate: P.O.S.T. P.C. 832 ĐArrest & Firearms
Certificate: Police Marksmanship Sharpshooter
Certificate: Monadnock PR-24

 

 

 

 

1980

AMERICAN SCHOOL OF FIREARMS, NEWPORT BEACH, CA
Diploma: Gun Pro

 

 

 

 

1978

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDEGE
Bachelor of Science: Afro-American Studies

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL SEMINARS

 

 

 

 

 

Attended numerous seminars required as part of the ASIS sponsored CPP re-certification and the continuing education requirements as a Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigator.

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

  • Testifying in Court from the PIŐs Perspective and Criminal Defense Investigations, Georgia Association of Professional Private InvestigatorsŐ 4th Annual Southeast Investigators Conference, November 3, 2007, Atlanta, Georgia.

á         Criminal Defense Investigations, Georgia Association of Professional Private InvestigatorsŐ Spring Training, May 25, 2007.

 

á         The Role of The Defense Investigator, Basic Crime Scene Investigation, Witness Interviews and Testifying in Court, Orleans Public Defenders Đ Criminal Defense Investigation, January 26-27, 2007, Loyola University Law School, New Orleans, Louisiana.

 

á         Witness Interviews and Testifying in Court, Georgia Public Defender Standards Council Đ 2006 Fundamentals of Public Defense, January 17-20, 2006, Unicoi Lodge, Helen, Georgia.

 

á         Fact Investigation in Capital Cases and Confronting Issues of Race and Class in Capital Cases, Annual Capital Defense Training Seminar, July 8-9, 2005, State Bar of Georgia Conference Center, Atlanta, Georgia.

 

á         Witness Interviews, Georgia Public Defender Standards Council Đ Investigator Training Seminar, April 29, 2005, State Bar of Georgia Conference Center, Atlanta, Georgia.

 

á         Investigations and Statement Taking, Georgia Public Defender Standards Council Đ New Attorney Training, January 18-22, 2005, Jekyll Island, Georgia.

 

á         Investigating High Profile Cases, the Georgia Association of Professional Private InvestigatorsŐ training, August 10, 2004.

 

á         Investigating the StateŐs Investigation and When Your Client is Muslim, the 12th Annual Capital Defense Training Seminar sponsored by GeorgiaŐs Multi-County Public Defenders Office, February 5-8, 2004, St. Simons Island, Georgia.

 

á         Crime Scene Investigation, the Georgia Innocence ProjectŐs training on DNA: The Law & the Science, September 5, 2003.

 

á         Ballistics Explained Đ What It Can Mean to Your Case and How to Apply It, the Georgia Indigent Defense CouncilŐs 2003 Criminal Defense Investigator Training Series: Physical Evidence in Homicide Cases, August 21, 2003.

 

á         A Federal Case in Disguise: When a State Superior Court Case is in Fact Orchestrated by Federal Authorities, the Georgia Indigent Defense CouncilŐs 2003 Criminal Defense Investigator Training Series, June 19, 2003.

 

á         Executive Protection, the International Organization of Black Security Executives (IOBSE) Annual Spring Conference, Atlanta, GA May 2, 2003.

 

á         Use of Deadly Force, the Georgia Indigent Defense CouncilŐs 2003 Criminal Defense Investigator Training Series, April 10, 2003.

 

á         The Patriot Act and Homeland Security: The Impact on Civil Liberties, Tougaloo College, March 29, 2003.

 

á         Issues of Diversity in Investigating Capital Cases, the 11th Annual Capital Defense Training Seminar sponsored by GeorgiaŐs Multi-County Public Defenders Office, February 6-9, 2003, Jekyll Island, Georgia.

 

á         Criminal Procedures and Investigations, Georgia State University Law School, September 17, 2001.

 

á         Criminal Defense Investigations, the Georgia Association of Professional Private Investigators Annual Training Seminar, 1999.

 

á         Hip Hop Goes COINTELPRO, the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association at Howard University School of Law, 1998.

 

á         Political Prisoners in the U.S.: Victims of COINTELPRO, Amnesty InternationalŐs Conference on Political Prisoners, Alabama State University, 1995.

 

 

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

 

 

 

 

Georgia Association of Professional Private Investigators (GAPPI) www.gappi.org

The Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council (CDITC) www.Defenseinvestigator.com

ASIS International www.asisonline.org

National Association of legal Investigators (NALI) www.nali.com

Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (GACDL) www.gacdl.org

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) www.nacdl.org

National Council of Investigation and Security Services (NCISS) www.nciss.com

National Association of Investigative Specialists (NAIS) www.pimall.com

International Organization of Black Security Executives (IOBSE) www.iobse.com

Alliance of Investigative and Security Specialist (AIASS) www.aiass.org

National Rifle Association (NRA) www.nra.org

International Association for Counterterrorism & Security Professionals (IACSP) www.iacsp.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CITIZENSHIP

United States

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRAVEL

Africa, Canada, Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, and South America

 

 

 

 

 

 

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

 

 

 

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