Recently released bodycam footage captures the violent arrest of Tyron McAlpin, a 34-year-old Black man who is deaf, by Phoenix police officers in a parking lot. The footage shows officers shouting commands at McAlpin while he lies face-down on the ground, with one officer repeatedly punching him and another using a Taser.
McAlpin, originally accused of theft, now faces charges of aggravated assault and resisting arrest. However, critics argue that his disability played a critical role in his failure to comply with the officer’s commands.
Confrontation over theft allegation
The incident occurred on August 19 when police were called after a man claimed someone tried to steal his bike and punched him. The man directed officers to McAlpin, leading police to confront him in a nearby parking lot. Bodycam footage shows officers calling out to McAlpin, but he does not respond. The situation quickly escalates as officers attempt to detain him. “Hey buddy, stop where you’re at,” one officer shouts from the car. When McAlpin does not comply, a scuffle ensues almost immediately after the officer exits the vehicle. The officer later described McAlpin’s stance as “fighting” in the incident report.
Violent arrest caught on camera
The footage reveals the tense moments as officers wrestle McAlpin to the ground, repeatedly shouting at him to put his hands behind his back. When McAlpin does not comply, the officers strike him and deploy a Taser several times before finally handcuffing him. One officer, claiming an injury during the altercation, remarks, “I think I broke my hand.” Another officer responds, “Did he bite you?” to which the reply is a simple, “Yeah.” Shortly after the arrest, McAlpin’s wife, Jessica Ulaszek, arrives at the scene and informs officers that her husband is deaf and has cerebral palsy. She claims they had been communicating via phone using sign language when the incident occurred.
Family and advocates speak out
Ulaszek tells the officers that her husband did not assault anyone and explains his disabilities. “He’s deaf and he’s got cerebral palsy. I’ve been on the phone with him since Circle K,” she says. The arrest has ignited outrage among civil rights and disability advocacy groups, who are calling for the charges against McAlpin to be dropped. “The continued demands to comply and follow commands were not being heard,” said J.J. Rico, CEO of Disability Rights Arizona. “So now to raise allegations that he was not complying, you have to consider the disability.” Sarah Tyree, president of the NAACP’s Arizona conference, expressed her dismay: “It’s just another stark reminder of where we are.”
Investigation and legal challenges
Phoenix police officers involved in the incident are still on active duty, as the department’s Professional Standards Bureau conducts an internal investigation. The Phoenix Police Department acknowledged that the investigation began in late August and remains ongoing. Responding to public outcry, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell has promised to personally review the case. “Some in our community have voiced concerns regarding the charges against Tyron McAlpin,” Mitchell said. “I may reach a different conclusion, or I may not, but I believe this case merits additional scrutiny.”
Calls for accountability
McAlpin’s attorney, Jesse Showalter, argues that the deaf man could not understand the officers’ commands and was simply trying to avoid harm. “Everything I see in that video is Tyron just trying to avoid being harmed by these officers,” Showalter told CNN affiliate KNXV. Both officers involved in the incident testified during a preliminary hearing, admitting they had little to no training in handling interactions with individuals who have disabilities.
The case comes as the Phoenix Police Department faces scrutiny following a Department of Justice report earlier this year that found the department disproportionately enforced laws against minorities and people with behavioral health disabilities. McAlpin’s pretrial conference is set for November 13, with the trial scheduled for late February. Meanwhile, advocacy groups and McAlpin’s family continue to push for justice, arguing that his disability was ignored during the violent arrest.