Photo: Getty Images
Three Phoenix police officers involved in last year's violent arrest of a deaf Black man who has cerebral palsy received 24-hour, unpaid suspensions, per NBC News.
34-year-old Tyron McAlpin was punched and tased multiple times and put in a chokehold by Phoenix police officers during an arrest on August 19, body camera footage shows. The arrest occurred after a white man allegedly falsely accused McAlpin of assault at a convenience store.
Officers said McAlpin was throwing punches and taking a fighting stance during the arrest. However, attorneys said the man was trying to protect himself as police violently escalated the situation while he struggled to understand their commands due to his disability.
McAlpin was initially charged with aggravated assault and resisting arrest. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell later dismissed the criminal charges against McAlpin following community outrage.
On Wednesday (March 26), Phoenix police announced that three officers were suspended without pay for 24 hours, with two of them being required to undergo additional de-escalation training. The department declined to name the officers due to the possibility of a pending appeal process.
“The Department identified policy violations” following an internal investigation into McAlphin's arrest, Phoenix police said in a statement.
The 24-hour suspensions apply to the officers' working hours. For example, if an officer works eight-hour shifts, their suspension will last three days.
“Our priority is always the safety and well-being of our community and our officers. We understand the concerns raised by this incident, and we take them seriously,” Interim Police Chief Michael Sullivan said in a statement.
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