Deaf man with cerebral palsy beaten and subpoenaed by Phoenix police officers; ongoing investigations

PHOENIX – Investigations are underway following an aggressive arrest at Phoenix causing a national outcry.

Phoenix police say a man bit and punched them, while his lawyer says the man, who is deaf, disabled and black, was the victim of a violent police attack.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and several city council members call the body camera footage very concerning and confirm investigations are underway.

The incident is currently under investigation by the Office of Professional Standards and the Phoenix Force Assessment Review Unit.

Video shows Tyron McAlpin’s August 19 arrest near Indian School Road and 12th Street.

FOX 10 plans to speak with his attorney on Oct. 17, but has in the meantime obtained video from his attorney of the meeting.

It is an encounter that arouses indignation.

“Hey buddy, stop where you are. Sit down,” an officer told McAplin.

What ensues is a fight that can be seen from two angles: the officer’s body camera and store surveillance footage.

You can see a man, later identified as Tyron McAlpin, 34, walking and looking at his phone. A police car approaches.

On the right, you see the door open after giving the order to stop. Moments later, the officer puts his hands on McAlpin and punches are thrown in both directions.

A second officer arrives.

“Tase him, tase him, tase him,” one officer said. His camera is blocked.

He later told another police officer that he took off. Cameras captured repeated punches and Tasers.

“Hands behind your back, hands behind your back,” one officer said.

A woman later appears, identifying herself as McAlpin’s wife. She explains why he didn’t follow the officer’s orders.

“He is deaf and he has cerebral palsy” said his wife.

“How could he be deaf if he was on the phone?” said the officer.

“Because I know sign language, that’s why. I sign to him,” McAlpin’s wife said.

Several police cars and paramedics arrive later. An officer tells them he is injured.

“He was bitten by the guy,” an officer said.

A paramedic asked, “Where?” »

The second officer also reported a swollen hand in the police report, which also accused McAlpin of repeatedly punching the officers and leaving a bite mark.

According to the document, it all started when police were called to a gas station following reports of a fight. A man across the street identified McAlpin as her attacker.

“Are you saying that’s the guy?” » asked the police officer of the alleged victim. He replied: “With the hat backwards, yes.”

That’s when officers say they pursued McAlpin in their vehicles.

Police document that state gas station employees did not witness a fight and no security camera angles captured the punches thrown.

McAlpin was not charged with assaulting the man at the gas station. However, he faces charges of aggravated assault on an officer, which is a felony.

FOX 10 reached out to the Phoenix Police Department with a list of questions, but did not receive a response.

Acting Phoenix Police Chief Michael Sullivan released a statement saying:

“Since accepting the position as Acting Chief of the Phoenix Police Department, I have spoken extensively about my efforts to be a self-assessing and self-correcting agency. That means taking a hard look at cases likely to call into question the actions of our officers. Many are concerned after seeing the video of the officers’ interaction with a man who they later learned was disabled. and raises many questions that I want to assure the community about.

Shortly after this incident, the Office of Professional Standards launched an internal investigation into this incident. Their work is important to ensure that all the facts are known before drawing conclusions. I ask for the public’s patience during this process. Once the investigation is complete, I will personally review the findings and take appropriate action. The PSB investigation will also be reviewed by the Office of Accountability and Transparency as well as the Civilian Review Commission to ensure it is thorough and complete.

Accountability for our actions as a police department is paramount as we work every day to build and maintain the trust of the community we serve.

The City of Phoenix Office of Accountability and Transparency (OAT) stated in full:

“OAT echoes the community outcry following the arrest of Tyron McAlpin. This incident shows that strong transparency and accountability mechanisms are deeply needed and must be implemented effectively.

The OAT sent a lookout notice to the ministry on Tuesday, October 15.

As with every investigation it reviews, the OAT will rigorously and diligently execute its mandate to review the Department’s administrative investigation into this incident.

Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) President Darrell Kriplean responded to the incident saying in full:

“We are aware of an incident that occurred on August 19, 2024, during which an individual resisted arrest after immediately fighting with our officers who wanted to question him about his involvement in a previous attack against a member of the community.

While some media outlets talk about race and discrimination, it’s actually two police officers in full Phoenix police uniforms, driving fully marked police cars, who are immediately attacked by someone who allegedly committed a crime . Our officers have the right to defend themselves against an attack using force that is reasonable and necessary based on the circumstances presented at the time.

After reviewing all evidence presented, Maricopa County Superior Court Commissioner Nick Saccone determined there was sufficient evidence for criminal charges against the suspect due to his actions against the officers. We support our officers and caution the community against making judgments about the incident until all of the evidence is reviewed rather than a snippet of body camera footage. »

Maricopa County Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell released a statement saying in full:

“Some members of our community have expressed concerns about the charges against Tyron McAlpin. I have great confidence in the attorneys who work at MCAO and those who have reviewed this case to date. I also respect those who have expressed their concerns.

The full statement from Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego reads:

“I viewed body camera footage of an interaction between police and Tyron McAlpin. I share the deep concern we have heard from some members of our community, and this incident warrants a full and thorough investigation The Office of Professional Standards and the Constabulary Assessment Review Unit have opened investigations and I expect them to provide a comprehensive analysis, in-depth findings and recommendations.

Beyond these oversight bodies, the City Council and I remain committed to fostering community trust, and we continue our work to increase accountability and transparency within our department. Just a few weeks ago, the Council unanimously approved key police reform recommendations aimed at better documenting police activities and improving data collection, as well as improving internal investigations and the department’s evaluation processes. This work is ongoing and important, and as the process of investigating this incident unfolds, we will not lose sight of our improvement efforts. »