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Phoenix officers involved in Tyron McAlpin arrest put on leave

A screenshot of a video provided by Tyron McAlpin's attorneys showing Phoenix police arresting McAlpin in August 2024.
Jesse Showalter
A screenshot of a video provided by Tyron McAlpin's attorneys showing Phoenix police arresting McAlpin in August 2024.

Video of Phoenix police punching and tasing a Black disabled man while he was arrested drew national scrutiny just as the city tries to avoid federal oversight.

Now, officers Kyle Sue and Ben Harris have been sent home on paid leave.

Sue and Harris are officially on administrative leave, which is when a city employee is told to not do any work but still gets a salary.

Phoenix police body camera footage from Tyron McAlpin arrest: Officer 1

Sue and Harris face an internal investigation monitored by the police accountability office and its new civilian review board.

The police chief has promised to review the findings and take action.

The chief has also said Sue and Harris did not learn that Tyron McAlpin is deaf and has cerebral palsy until after they arrested him in August, which was about two months after the U.S. Justice Department said Phoenix police discriminate against disabled and Black people.

Phoenix police body camera footage from Tyron McAlpin arrest: Officer 2

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story’s headline has been updated to correct the spelling of McAlpin’s first name.

Matthew Casey has won Edward R. Murrow awards for hard news and sports reporting since he joined KJZZ as a senior field correspondent in 2015.
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