A deaf man named Tyron McAlpin is facing aggravated assault charges after an incident with Phoenix police officers. The altercation took place outside a Circle K store where officers were called to remove a man who refused to leave. McAlpin pointed to another man across the street, alleging that he had assaulted him. When officers approached McAlpin, he did not comply with their commands, leading to a struggle where officers punched and Tasered him. During the altercation, McAlpin is accused of biting one of the officers.
Body camera footage of the incident shows the struggle between McAlpin and the officers, with multiple attempts to get him to put his hands behind his back. The officers used physical force, including closed-fist strikes and multiple Taser deployments, to subdue McAlpin. Despite the use of force, McAlpin continued to resist arrest.
During a probable cause hearing, it was determined that there was enough evidence to proceed with felony charges against McAlpin for aggravated assault against an officer. The officers testified that if McAlpin had indicated he was deaf, the situation could have been handled differently. Ultimately, the court decided to move forward with the charges based on the testimonies of the officers and the body camera footage of the incident.
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