Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell reports that all charges have been dismissed against a Black man identified as Tyron McAlpin, who is deaf and disabled and was seen on video being Tasered and punched by Phoenix police officers.
Statement from Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell regarding the prosecution of Mr. Tyron McAlpin:
“Last Friday, a leader of the local chapter of the NAACP shared his concern with me regarding the prosecution of Mr. Tyron McAlpin. I promised I would personally review the case including a large volume of video recordings, police reports, and other materials that have been forwarded to my office.
On Tuesday of this week, I also convened a large gathering of senior attorneys and members of the community to hear their opinions as they pertain to this case.
I have now completed my review and have made the decision to dismiss all remaining charges against Mr. McAlpin.”
Phoenix Police Department Press Release Re: Tyron McAlpin Arrest
Message from Chief Sullivan:
Since I took the job as Interim Chief of the Phoenix Police Department, I have talked a lot about striving to be a self-assessing, self-correcting agency. That means taking a serious look at cases that may call into question the actions of our officers. There are many who are concerned after seeing the video of officers’ interaction with a man they later learned was disabled. I recognize the video is disturbing and raises a lot of questions. I want to assure the community we will get answers to those questions.
Shortly after this incident, the Professional Standard Bureau launched an internal investigation into this incident. Their work is important to ensure all facts are known before drawing any conclusions. I ask for the public’s patience during that process. Once the investigation is complete, I will personally review the findings and take appropriate action. The PSB investigation will also be reviewed by the Office of Accountability and Transparency as well as the Civilian Review Board to ensure it is thorough and complete.
Accountability for our actions as a Police Department is paramount as we work every day to build and maintain the trust of the community we serve.
Michael G. Sullivan
Interim Phoenix Police Chief