Shocking bodycam footage captured the moment three Arizona police officers punched and Tazed a disabled deaf black man who had not committed a crime.
The aggressive arrest unfolded on August 19, 2024, when Tyron McAlpin was thrown to the ground, struck repeatedly and hit with a stun gun in a parking lot in Phoenix.
McAlpin, who is deaf and has cerebral palsy, was seen at the start of the footage standing outside a Dollar Tree when officers arrived to reports of an assault.
Cops claimed McAlpin matched the description of the suspect who attacked a man nearby, however McAlpin’s attorneys say witnesses described a white man.
The footage was released this week as the Phoenix Police Department suspended Officers Benjamin Harris, Kyle Sue and Jorge Acosta, for 24 hours without pay.
Two were also ordered to attend de-escalation training.
McAlpin has launched a lawsuit against the officers over the arrest, claiming they slammed him to the ground before he had a chance to indicate that he was deaf.
Officers claimed McAlpin was aggressive and resisted arrest, while his attorneys say he attempted to raise his hands to his ears to signal that he was deaf, but an officer grabbed his arms before he could do so.
Shocking bodycam footage captured the moment three Arizona police officers punched and tased disabled deaf black man Tyron McAlpin in August 2024
McAlpin was hauled to the ground and arrested for aggravated assault and resisting arrest after officers were called to reports of a man being attacked at a nearby store. McAlpin’s attorneys say witnesses reported a white attacker, and charges against him were dropped
McAlpin, who is deaf and suffers from cerebral palsy, subsequently filed a $3.5 million lawsuit against the arresting officers and the Phoenix Police Department after he spent three weeks in custody following the arrest
Surveillance footage from the Dollar Tree store showed the officers leapt on McAlpin within seconds of their arrival on the scene.
As McAlpin flailed his arms around, one of the officers took him to the floor before a second officer took out their taser.
McAlpin’s attorneys say he was hit with the stun gun several times while being restrained on the floor.
He was subsequently charged with resisting arrest and aggravated assault, and was held in custody for three weeks before the charges were eventually dropped.
McAlpin subsequently filed a $3.5 million lawsuit against the arresting officers and the Phoenix Police Department, claiming they ‘falsified charges’ against him after he was ‘attacked, beat and tased.’
Although footage of McAlpine’s arrest sparked outrage on social media, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association has defended the officers and accused the media of ‘biased reporting’ and an ‘ugly smear campaign’ against the officers.
Officers maintained that they were so aggressive with McAlpin because he resisted, but he claimed he was trying to tell them he was deaf and couldn’t understand their instructions
The footage was released this week as the Phoenix Police Department suspended the three officers, named as Officers Kyle Sue (pictured), Benjamin Harris, and Jorge Acosta, for 24 hours without pay as punishment
The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association has defended the officers (pictured is officer Benjamin Harris) and accused the media of ‘biased reporting’ and an ‘ugly smear campaign’ against the officers
In a statement after they were suspended this week, the association slammed Phoenix law enforcement leadership and maintained that McAlpin resisted arrest.
‘We are appalled by the determination made by Interim Chief Sullivan to suspend the three officers involved in the McAlpin case,’ the union’s president, Darrell Kriplean, said.
‘A situation that was previously reviewed internally by subject matter experts of the Force Evaluation and Review Unit and deemed to be within policy has suddenly been reversed due to public pressure, based on biased media reporting.’
Kriplean said that the officers ‘were met with an immediate assault by Mr. McAlpin’, adding: ‘Our officers have a right to defend themselves against attack. After a significant altercation, our officers were able to take Mr. McAlpine into custody, but not before suffering significant injuries of their own.
‘We support accountability when there is actual wrongdoing, but disciplining officers solely because it aligns with public opinion, rather than fact, is wrong and morally corrupt.
‘Our officers deserve better than the current leadership at Phoenix PD. Interim Chief Sullivan’s inability to defend his officers is shameful and pathetic. We stand behind our officers and thank the men and women of the Phoenix Police Department for their service to our community.’
Officers claimed McAlpin was aggressive and resisted arrest, while his attorneys say he attempted to raise his hands to his ears to signal that he was deaf, but an officer grabbed his arms before he could do so
Interim Phoenix Police Chief Michael Sullivan defended his decision to suspend the officers, which he said ‘reflects our commitment to accountability and maintaining public trust’
In his own statement, Interim Police Chief Michael Sullivan said: ‘The decision to suspend the officers reflects our commitment to accountability and maintaining public trust.
‘At the same time, we stand by the men and women of this department who are placed in difficult situations every day. We will continue to support our officers with training and guidance to ensure they can perform their duties safely and effectively.
‘Our goal is to learn from this and move forward together as a stronger department and community.’
