Charges dropped against deaf black man beaten by Phoenix police

Arizona prosecutors have dropped all charges against a deaf black man with cerebral palsy who was beaten by Phoenix police in August after refusing to respond to their commands, authorities said Thursday.

Maricopa County Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell dismissed criminal charges against Tyron McAlpin, 34, after community outrage, including from the local NAACP.

“I promised that I would personally review the case, including a large number of video recordings, police reports and other documents that were forwarded to my office,” Mitchell said in a statement. “I have now completed my review and have made the decision to dismiss all remaining charges against Mr. McAlpin.”

Video footage of the encounter showed Officers Benjamin Harris and Kyle Sue beating and deploying a stun gun on McAlpin after responding to a trespassing call at a Circle K. When Harris and Sue arrived at the store, they were asked to ‘deport a white man – who claimed he was attacked by McAlpin.

Harris asked the man crossing the street to stop. Video footage shows that within seconds the officer caught McAlpin.

As a struggle between the men ensued, Harris used a stun gun on McAlpin four times. The police also punched him more than a dozen times. After his arrest, the deaf man was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.

His bail was set at $7,500, but because he couldn’t afford it, McAlpin spent 24 days in jail, said his attorney, Jesse Showalter.

McAlpin’s violent arrest came just months after the Justice Department found “overwhelming statistical evidence” that Phoenix police discriminated against blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans.

The report also concluded that the department unlawfully detained homeless people and used excessive force, including unjustified deadly force.

Showalter accused the city of filing a complaint with the district attorney’s office in an effort to limit the damage to the city.

“I believe they brought these charges not because they believed a crime had been committed, but because they wanted to protect themselves from any civil liability for the attack on Tyrone McAlpin,” he said. he declared.

“So I’m very grateful to hear that Rachel Mitchell did the right thing and I know she made an independent decision based on the evidence.”

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