Video Shows Phoenix Police Punching Deaf Black Man After Mistakenly Arresting Him While Seeking White Suspect

Oct 11, 2024, 11:25 PM

A deaf Black man with cerebral palsy, Tyrone McAlpin, was punched and tasered by Phoenix police officers after a white man falsely claimed he was assaulted by a Black man and pointed to McAlpin. The police had originally been called about a white suspect but arrested McAlpin instead. Video footage shows officers hitting and using a stun gun on McAlpin, beginning to tackle him less than one second after their encounter began. McAlpin is now facing charges stemming from the incident. A Phoenix officer testified that if McAlpin had just told him he was deaf, the situation wouldn't have escalated so quickly.