All Charges Dropped Against Deaf Black Man Beaten by Cops

UPDATE Oct 19, 2024 7:00 AM CDT

All charges have been dropped against a deaf Black man who was beaten and shocked with a Taser by Phoenix police after not responding to their commands. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced on Thursday that, after reviewing evidence, her office won't be seeking charges of resisting arrest and aggravated assault against 34-year-old Tyron McAlpin, who also has cerebral palsy, reports the New York Times. Previous charges regarding a cellphone theft had already been dropped. Darrell Kriplean, head of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, insists the officers were just defending themselves, per the AP. "At no time did Mr. McAlpin convey to them that he was hearing impaired or suffered from cerebral palsy," Kriplean said in a statement. A Phoenix Police Department investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Oct 17, 2024 1:40 PM CDT

A disturbing video shows two Phoenix police officers repeatedly punching and Tasering a man whom police say was resisting arrest. The Aug. 19 footage shows officers demanding the man put his hands behind his back. Tyron McAlpin did not—but his lawyer says he had a good reason for that. He's deaf, Jesse Showalter tells the Washington Post. "What we have is an innocent person who's attacked by police while he's walking home," he adds. Police had received a call about a white man acting aggressively at a convenience store, according to court documents. When officers questioned the male, he claimed he'd just been assaulted by McAlpin, who'd also stolen his cellphone, per the Post.

Officers left the white man and drove toward McAlpin, a deaf Black man with cerebral palsy, who was using sign language to communicate with his wife on a video call, says Showalter. Footage shows McAlpin side-step the police vehicle in a parking lot. Officer Benjamin Harris tells him to stop. Seconds later, Harris runs at McAlpin and starts beating him. He's soon joined by officer Kyle Sue, and the pair bring McAlpin to the ground. The 34-year-old was repeatedly punched in the head and hit with a Taser. As he laid on the ground screaming, officers demanded he put his hands behind his back, but he couldn't hear them, Showalter says. Officers were informed of McAlpin's deafness immediately after the arrest, but it isn't mentioned in Harris' or Sue's incident reports.

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Harris' report claims McAlpin immediately began "swinging punches at my head," prompting the officer to deliver "as many closed-fist strikes as I could to Tyron's head area." In fact, the footage "shows the officer was the first to outstretch his arms toward McAlpin while McAlpin's arms remained by his side," per CNN. McAlpin spent the next 24 days in jail. He was initially charged with theft of the cellphone, though the charge was dropped once it became clear the phone was his, says Showalter. McAlpin still faces charges of resisting arrest and aggravated assault on a police officer. In addition to the other allegations, Harris and Sue claim McAlpin bit the hand of an officer. The officers remain on active duty. (The department has been found to discriminate against Black people and use excessive force.)