Tyron McAlpin: Phoenix police officers seen on body camera video punching and shocking a deaf man have been placed on administrative leave

CNN
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Two Phoenix police officers seen on body camera video punching and shocking a deaf black man during an arrest in August are on administrative leave, the Phoenix Police Department said Tuesday — just days after charges were filed against the man. arrested were removed.

A Phoenix police statement provided to CNN did not say when the officers — Benjamin Harris and Kyle Sue — were placed on leave or indicate how long it would last. The incident is the subject of an “ongoing internal investigation,” according to the statement.

The department told CNN last week that the officers were not placed on leave.

“There are many who are concerned after seeing the video of police officers interacting with a man they later learned was disabled. I recognize that the video is disturbing and raises many questions. I want to assure the community that we will get answers to these questions,” Phoenix Police Interim Chief Michael G. Sullivan said in a statement.

Tyron McAlpin, 34, was initially charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of resisting arrest in connection with the incident. But all charges against him were dropped last week after a review by Maricopa County District Attorney Rachel Mitchell, according to a statement from her office.

“On behalf of Tyron and his family, we are overjoyed,” McAlpin’s attorney, Jesse Showalter, told CNN last week. “Rachel Mitchell did the right and fair thing after an independent review. These were unfair accusations brought against Tyron and we are deeply saddened that the City of Phoenix and its officials allowed the case to progress so far.”

The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association did not respond to CNN’s request for comment on the officers’ leave.

The union said last week that McAlpin “resisted arrest after immediately becoming combative with our officers who wanted to question him.”

“Our officers have the right to defend themselves against attack by using force that is reasonable and necessary based on the circumstances presented at the time,” the union said in a statement to CNN affiliate KNXV.

“We support our officers and caution the community about making judgments about the incident until all the evidence is analyzed, rather than a snippet of body camera footage.”

The Aug. 19 encounter began when McAlpin was approached by officers in a parking lot near the Circle K after a man called 911 and said he was punched by someone who tried to steal his bike, according to an incident report reviewed by CNN.

Body camera footage of the incident showed one of the officers calling out to McAlpin from a police car, asking him to “sit down.” Within seconds, the officer gets out of the car and a fight ensues.

Surveillance footage from a nearby business shows the police car heading toward McAlpin. Within seconds, a police officer exits the car and advances toward McAlpin.

Body camera footage shows the officer was the first to extend his arms toward McAlpin, while McAlpin’s arms remained at his side.

Almost instantly, McAlpin raises his arms. Less than a second after that, both the officer and McAlpin are involved in a fight.

A second officer comes to help pin McAlpin to the ground, face down. But McAlpin’s right hand is still in front of his body.

“Put your hands behind your back!” the first officer shouts to the deaf man. “Hand behind your back, now!”

When McAlpin doesn’t comply and raises his head slightly, the other officer punches him in the head.

An officer tasers McAlpin several times before he is handcuffed and taken away. At one point, the police describe the injuries resulting from the confrontation:

“I think I broke my hand,” the first officer says. “Did he bite you?”

“Yes,” replied the second officer.

McAlpin’s wife, later identified as Jessica Ulaszek, appears at the scene minutes later, shows body camera footage, telling officers that her husband has cerebral palsy –– a condition that affects movement and coordination.

Body camera footage shows fire department medics responding and assessing McAlpin as he lay on the ground. The police report indicated that he was taken by ambulance to a hospital “for precautionary measures”.

CNN’s Holly Yan, Melissa Alonso, Carol Alvarado, Josh Campbell and Taylor Romine contributed to this report.