PHOENIX — Two police officers in Arizona are facing intense scrutiny across the nation after newly released body camera footage captured them violently attacking a deaf Black man with a Taser nearly two months prior.

Tyron McAlpin, aged 34, was struck and shocked by Phoenix officers Benjamin Harris and Kyle Sue in August, as shown in the recently unveiled video. McAlpin has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of aggravated assault and resisting arrest.

The body camera footage from the arrest outside a Circle K on August 19 was released on Monday, prompting outcry from civil rights groups, including the Arizona State Conference NAACP, which demands the officers be placed on administrative leave pending a complete investigation.

“Tyron was not a suspect in an actual crime, he had not committed any wrongdoing, and he also has significant communication challenges,” said Andre Miller, Vice President of the Arizona NAACP. The Phoenix Police Department has stated that an investigation is ongoing and assigned the case to the Professional Standards Bureau since August 30.

The release of this video follows a critical report issued by the U.S. Justice Department four months ago, indicating that Phoenix police officers had infringed on individuals’ civil and constitutional rights. The report found that officers employed excessive force, disproportionately targeted people of color, and frequently violated the rights of protesters, those without housing, and individuals facing mental health crises.

Details of Tyron McAlpin’s Arrest

On August 19, police were called to a Circle K to remove a white man who had allegedly been the “aggressor in a fight,” according to Harris’s police report. After escorting the man outside, he claimed to have been assaulted and pointed at McAlpin, who was on the sidewalk, according to the report.

McAlpin is not charged with assaulting the man.

Footage from officers’ body cameras shows Harris driving towards McAlpin and instructing him to stop. However, McAlpin, who is deaf, according to court records, continued walking.

Harris then got out of his car, approached McAlpin, and said, “Have a seat.” After a brief struggle lasting about 10 seconds, Harris and Sue took McAlpin to the ground, repeatedly hitting and shocking him with a Taser.

As the officers commanded McAlpin to put his hands behind his back, he did not comply. While Harris directed McAlpin to follow the order, Sue struck him on the back of the head, causing McAlpin to instinctively raise his hands to protect himself.

The video shows Harris shouting increasingly aggressive commands for compliance before he began punching McAlpin. At one point, McAlpin stood up and reported feeling as though his knuckles were broken.

As Sue continued to hit him, Harris drew his Taser and fired it at McAlpin. The footage captures McAlpin crying out as he hears Harris yelling, “Hands behind your back.”

In the video, the officers can be seen punching McAlpin at least a dozen times and using a Taser on him four separate occasions.

In his incident report, Harris claimed that McAlpin threw punches at him and bit Sue. However, the video shows Harris moving his arm towards McAlpin’s face, with his closed fist appearing to approach McAlpin’s mouth.

After McAlpin was handcuffed, body camera footage reveals a woman informing the officers that McAlpin is her husband, that he is deaf and has cerebral palsy.

As of Tuesday, the officers remained on active duty.

McAlpin’s lawyer refuted any wrongdoing, emphasizing that the main goal is to have what he called unjust charges dropped. McAlpin spent 24 days in jail before being released on bail, as reported by CBS News. He has since pleaded not guilty.

Recent Incidents Follow DOJ Findings

The Phoenix Police Department has been under national scrutiny since the Justice Department published a detailed report following a three-year-long investigation.

The report indicated that the Phoenix police had infringed upon the First, Fourth, and 14th Amendments. These constitutional protections safeguard free speech, prevent unreasonable searches and seizures, and ensure equal protection under the law.

According to Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, “Our investigation uncovered systemic issues within the Phoenix Police Department that strip people of their rights under both the Constitution and federal law.” The report noted extensive failures in the department’s policies, training, oversight, and accountability systems that have enabled these violations to persist for many years.

Phoenix City Councilmember Kevin Robinson referenced the Justice Department’s findings in his statement, expressing concerns regarding the video. He, along with Councilmember Carlos Galindo-Elvira, acknowledged the need for proper investigation protocols for misconduct.

Robinson emphasized, “Now is the time to demonstrate to our residents that our City’s Police Department will thoroughly examine any misconduct allegations.”