All charges against Tyron McAlpin have been officially dropped, a decision that marks an end to his ongoing legal spat.
McAlpin, a Black 34-year-old deaf man with cerebral palsy, was facing multiple counts after police in Phoenix, Arizona, brutally beat and tased him for not complying with their orders. In reality, McAlpin couldn’t hear their commands. This did not stop them from violently assaulting him after a white man falsely accused McAlpin of assaulting him. Officers involved in the attack reportedly failed to note McAlpin was deaf despite being made aware at the scene by a bystander. The arrest occurred in August, and up until early October, he faced charges of aggravated assault on an officer and resisting arrest.
McAlpin maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, asserting that the police had misinterpreted the situation. Supporters rallied behind him, calling for accountability within the justice system. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell decided to drop McAlpin’s pending case after meeting with local activists.
“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,” she stated. “I have now completed my review and have made the decision to dismiss all remaining charges against Mr. McAlpin.”
