Charges against a deaf Black man with cerebral palsy who was shocked with a Taser and punched by Phoenix police officers have been dismissed. Tyron McAlpin, 34, was originally charged with aggravated assault and resisting arrest after an incident where he was accused of failing to respond to commands and swinging punches at an officer, as well as stealing a cell phone. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell reviewed the case and decided to drop the charges. Body cam footage raised questions about the arrest in August, showing McAlpin being tased and punched by officers. The officers claimed McAlpin was engaging in active aggression, but his attorney stated that he was unable to comply with commands due to his disabilities. The Justice Department previously found that the Phoenix Police Department discriminates against minority communities and uses excessive force. McAlpin’s attorney plans to file a lawsuit if additional videos and evidence are not provided by the police. The arrest took place at a convenience store after a 911 call reporting a fight. The caller identified McAlpin as the aggressor, leading to his arrest. McAlpin’s wife, who is also deaf, arrived at the scene and explained his disabilities to the officers. The dismissal of charges comes amid ongoing scrutiny of police conduct and racial bias within the Phoenix Police Department.
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Phoenix Police Drop Charges Against Deaf Man with Cerebral Palsy Who Was Tased and Assaulted
