Sheriff deputy wrestles quadruple amputee teenager in violent video
A 15-year-old boy in a group home is wrestled to the floor in a headlock before another teen's head is slammed into a wall during an arrest
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A sheriff's deputy in Arizona was caught tackling a teenage quadruple amputee in a violent eight-minute video.
A 15-year-old boy, missing both arms and both legs, was filmed by another teenager inside a group home where both boys lived, according to Arizona news outlet KOLD, which obtained video provided by the Pima County Public Defender's Office.
The video shows the deputy on his knees while using his weight to shove the teenager into a corner. The deputy then wrestles the boy from the corner to the floor and wraps him in a headlock.
The boy, identified as Immanuel, screams at the deputy while he continues to hold him down with one arm.
The deputy yells to "go to your room" and "shut the hell up" to the 16-year-old, identified as CJ, who filmed the scene. The deputy threatens to arrest CJ, who says he is eating cereal and can't return to his room.
Another person takes the phone from CJ to turn the camera on him.
CJ is placed in handcuffs, and there's a loud pop as a deputy is seen slamming his head into a wall.
The teens, who are black, were arrested by white deputies for disorderly conduct.
Following the release of the footage on Thursday, the Pima County Attorney's Office dropped charges against both of the boys.
The scene unfolded on 26 September after staff at the group home called police to report that Immanuel, reportedly living in the group home after his family abandoned him, had knocked over a trash can.
KOLD showed the footage to the Pima County Sheriff's Department, which the station reports did not previously know about the event until it was shown by the station to officials.
The department told KOLD that it will pursue an internal investigation.
Pima County Public Defender Joel Feinman told KOLD that "men with badges should not be acting this way."
"Men and women who do act this way should not have badges and guns," he said
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments