Nationwide — Three Phoenix police officers involved in the violent arrest of Tyron McAlpin, an African American man who is deaf and has cerebral palsy, have been disciplined one year since the incident happened.
In August 2024, bodycam footage showed officers repeatedly tasing and punching McAlpin after responding to a 911 call about a white man loitering at a convenience store, according to CBS News.
Two officers, later identified as Benjamin Harris and Kyle Sue, were seen jumping out of their patrol vehicle and hitting McAlpin at least 10 times. One officer claimed McAlpin bit him, while the other alleged McAlpin swung at him.
The 911 caller reported being assaulted and having his phone stolen, pointing to McAlpin as the suspect. However, McAlpin was never charged for these claims. Instead, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting the officers and resisting arrest. Those charges were later dropped by Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell in October 2024.
On Tuesday, the department announced 24-hour unpaid suspensions for three officers, with two of them required to undergo additional de-escalation training. While the officers’ names were not mentioned in the announcement, Harris and Sue had previously been identified.
A June 2024 Justice Department report concluded that Phoenix police engaged in a “pattern or practice” of discrimination and excessive force, including against individuals with behavioral health disabilities.
