Arizona Police Officers Caught on Video Brutally Beating Black Man with Cerebral Palsy

The recent incident involving Phoenix police officers brutally beating a deaf Black man with cerebral palsy, Tyron McAlpin, has once again sparked outrage and calls for accountability. The body camera footage released over the weekend shows officers hitting and tasing McAlpin multiple times outside of a convenience store, despite not even arresting him for the initial disturbance they were called for.

The officers were originally called to the scene because a white man claimed he was being attacked by McAlpin, but video evidence shows the officers immediately attacking McAlpin as soon as they arrived. McAlpin, who was simply walking across the street, allegedly tried to defend himself against the officers’ aggression, resulting in his arrest on charges of felony aggravated assault and resisting arrest.

This disturbing incident comes in the wake of a U.S. Department of Justice report that found the Phoenix Police Department engages in a pattern of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law, including the use of excessive force and discrimination against Black, Hispanic, and Native American individuals. McAlpin’s attorney, Jesse Showalter, expressed disbelief at the city’s response to the incident, questioning how they can claim to be addressing the DOJ report while charging McAlpin with assault on police officers.

As calls for police reform and accountability continue to grow, this latest incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for change within law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety and rights of all individuals, regardless of race or disability.