Report: Glendale officer in stun gun arrest has record of behavior issues

PHOENIX – The Glendale Police officer at the center of an investigation over aggressive use of a stun gun on a man who was in handcuffs has faced disciplinary action before for forceful behavior, according to a report.

ABC15 reported Monday that officer Matt Schneider has been disciplined multiple times by the department since 2005, twice in 2018.

The TV news report said Schneider had been suspended for failing to follow a supervisor’s direct order; having a citizen’s personal property destroyed while it was in evidence; harassment and bullying at the office, including an incident, “which could have resulted in a physical injury,” said a document.

That June 2018 episode, the department acknowledged in the paperwork, was “never fully investigated at the the time as it should have been.”

Schneider was suspended for three days last year after a review of body-cam video from July 2017 showed Johnny Wheatcroft being shocked with a stun gun 11 times.

The video became public nearly two weeks ago, when Wheatcroft sued the city and the three police officers at the traffic stop.

Wheatcroft was a passenger in a car police had pulled over for traffic violations. He was asked to show ID. After he wanted to know why, Wheatcroft eventually was pulled out of the car, dropped onto the ground and shocked repeatedly.

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office forwarded material related to the incident to the Federal Bureau of Investigation several days after the video’s release.

“After having personally reviewed all available video evidence, I have determined further investigation is warranted,” County Attorney Bill Montgomery said in a statement dated Feb. 13.

Gov. Doug Ducey called the incident “completely unacceptable” and said it did not “represent the law enforcement that I know” in Arizona.

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