Maricopa County’s top prosecutor has dismissed all remaining charges against a disabled Black man punched and tased by Phoenix police officers as he was arrested in August.
Now, the Democrat running against County Attorney Rachel Mitchell says her opponent had to be publicly shamed into taking action.
Mitchell was urged to consider charging the Phoenix police officers who arrested Tyron McAlpin.
Another option for local prosecutors is to ask the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Arizona to pursue criminal civil rights cases against the officers.
“That is something I would very strongly consider. Let’s put it that way,” said Tamika Wooten, who is running against Mitchell.
Wooten added that federal prosecutors have likely seen videos of McAlpin’s arrest.
“And I’m sure they know what the right thing to do is,” Wooten said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said they are aware of the incident involving McAlpin, but gave no further comment.
“I don’t understand why it took a week (for Mitchell to dismiss the remaining charges against McAlpin.) And why it took the NAACP, and why it took national and internal news to make her feel like, ‘Oh shoot, let me do something,” Wooten said.
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