Phoenix officers punched and shocked a deaf black man, body camera footage shows

PHOENIX — PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix officers repeatedly struck and shocked a deaf Black man with a Taser nearly two months ago when they responded to a call that the man had committed an assault at a convenience store, body camera footage shows.

The man, Tyron Scott McAlpin, 34, has been charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest and aggravated assault stemming from the Aug. 19 encounter with the officers. McAlpin’s arrest was first reported late last week by ABC15 Arizona. He has denied being guilty of the charges.

Police say Officer Benjamin Harris suffered a hand injury when he punched McAlpin, while McAlpin bit Officer Kyle Sue’s hand during the struggle, which was captured on the officers’ body cameras. Neither officer’s race was revealed in police reports.

During a court hearing, Harris testified that everything could have been avoided if McAlpin had only indicated he was deaf, ABC15 reported.

Phoenix police did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request via the department’s messaging system for comment from The Associated Press.

The man who called police, who is white, told them that McAlpin, who was walking nearby, had punched him in the face.

An officer caught up with McAlpin in a nearby parking lot and immediately laid hands on him after he got out of his patrol vehicle, and the struggle began.

McAlpin was arrested on suspicion of assaulting the man who called police, but has not been charged with assault.

The agency told ABC15 the encounter is under investigation and has been assigned to the internal affairs department.

Phoenix police have been accused by the U.S. Department of Justice of discriminating against Black, Hispanic and Native American people, unlawfully detaining homeless people and using excessive force, including unjustified deadly force.

The city has said it is committed to reforms at the police department but has resisted efforts to reach a consent decree with the Justice Department.