A deaf man, Tyron McAlpin, is facing aggravated assault charges against a Phoenix police officer, Benjamin Harris, after an incident in which officers punched and Tasered him. The incident began when officers were called to a Circle K store to remove a man who refused to leave. The man alleged that another individual had assaulted him, prompting the officers to approach McAlpin. Despite McAlpin being deaf, the officers attempted to interact with him, leading to a struggle. Harris punched McAlpin, and eventually, both officers managed to bring him to the ground and cuff him after multiple strikes and Taser deployments. McAlpin was charged with aggravated assault against an officer, and a hearing was held to determine if there was enough evidence for the charges to proceed. Harris testified that if McAlpin had indicated he was deaf, the incident could have been avoided. Despite this, the court commissioner determined that there was sufficient evidence to move forward with the felony charges against McAlpin. The body camera footage of the incident was reviewed during the hearing. The case highlights the challenges faced by deaf individuals in interactions with law enforcement and raises questions about the use of force by officers in such situations.
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