Two Phoenix police officers, Benjamin Harris and Kyle Sue, were placed on paid leave following a violent arrest of a deaf Black man with cerebral palsy named Tyron McAlpin. The incident, captured on body camera footage, showed the officers repeatedly punching and shocking McAlpin with a Taser after he did not comply with their commands. Charges against McAlpin were dropped, and an internal police investigation is pending.
The officers were responding to a trespassing call when they encountered McAlpin. The arrest, which was widely criticized, led to outrage from officials and human rights advocates. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Vice Mayor Debra Stark expressed concerns, while state Sen. Anna Hernandez and state Rep. Analise Ortiz highlighted systemic issues within the Phoenix Police Department.
The incident reignited concerns about police brutality and racial bias, particularly in light of a previous Department of Justice report criticizing the Phoenix Police Department for civil rights violations, including the disproportionate targeting of people of color. The release of the body camera footage sparked calls for accountability and reforms within the department.
The investigation into the violent arrest is ongoing, with interim chief Michael Sullivan promising a thorough review of the inquiry’s findings. Many are awaiting the results of the city’s investigation before deciding on potential apologies or further actions in response to the incident.
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