Man claims Phoenix officers assaulted him; police investigating

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Police Department has launched an internal investigation after a 23-year-old man claimed officers beat him up for allegedly “stealing” his own vehicle.

Sgt. Tommy Thompson said officers responded to a call of a physical fight between two men in the area of 16th and Monroe streets around 3 a.m. Sunday.

But one of the men, AaRone Fowler, told ABC15 that two officers tackled him to the ground after Fowler noticed one officer pulling at the doors of his car after saying he was free to go.

“My whole face from my right side was dragged through the dirt and the mud,” Fowler told the television station.

“They kept saying, ‘Stop resisting,’ but I kept saying, ‘What am I doing? What did I do?” he added.

“They kept saying, ‘You’re lucky you’re not going to jail.’ It’s not luck, it’s the law. I didn’t do anything to break the law.”

 

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I’m a model , Fashion designer and IM gonna be 23 this Saturday and this is what happens to me, I never knew waiting outside for a friend at 3AM would lead to me being brutally attacked and assaulted by the Phoenix,Arizona police department mind you I’m 6’4 165LBS. I do not have a criminal record I was assaulted without any probable cause and was not even read my rights because I was never placed under arrest officer Blanco badge #8710 and officer Sborz badge #10040 grabbed me slammed me pulled my hair rubbed my face in dirt, hogtied my legs , elbowed me , busted my lip from slamming my braces into floor broke a bracket on My teeth , dragged me to the car with one shoe all while I say please don’t kill me , and threw me to sit for 2 hours , then they proceeded to tell me MY OWN CAR is stolen then found MY PAPERS in the car and said I shouldn’t have been resisting Mind you I WAS NEVER UNDER ARREST . They then ended this all with have a goodnight I was never taken to jail or even to a Police station because no crime was committed they then began standing together it congregating a story to cover their actions. I WANT THE BODY CAM RELEASED ! I’m going to be missing FASHION WEEK For This.. Please repost and reshare this is crazy and it has to stop I am of BLACK AND HISPANIC DECENT AND WAS RACIALLY PROFILED @theshaderoom @hollywoodunlocked @naacp @troubleman31 @theneighborhoodtalk #Phoenix #policebrutality #phoenixpolice #Equality #Hatecrime #racialjustice #racialprofiling #Viral #Explore #Share #abc @nbc @cnn @goodmorningamerica @tmz_tv @worldstar @wendyshow @bossipofficial @balleralert @westhavenmgmt @theshaderoom @breakfastclubam @insideedition #phoenix #Vegas #LosAngeles #Atlanta #Miami #Like #Comment #JusticeForGrey @buzzfeednews @monascottyoung @blklivesmatter #Brooklyn

A post shared by Gra(Grey) (@grasonde) on Mar 17, 2019 at 4:11pm PDT

Thompson said when officers arrived at the scene, they found a car in the middle of the roadway and threatened to tow it, but the men began arguing with them and said they couldn’t tow it.

Officers ran a records check on the vehicle in question and found that it was reported stolen from Scottsdale, according to Thompson.

At that point, the officers attempted to arrest both men, but they allegedly refused to comply with directions and a struggle ensued, with one of the men being taken to the ground.

Once the men were detained, officers contacted the Scottsdale Police Department.

Scottsdale police found the car was reported stolen because one of the men failed to meet financial obligations, so the Phoenix officers let the men go and towed the vehicle.

Thompson said the department’s Professional Standards Bureau is investigating the incident and said officers would like to speak to both men, who have so far refused attempts made to contact them.

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