Video: Flagstaff officer shoots man in neck after getting pepper sprayed

PHOENIX — Flagstaff police said an officer shot a man Monday afternoon after he allegedly resisted arrest and used pepper spray on the officer.

Body cam footage (Warning: Video contains graphic content and foul/offensive language.) released Tuesday night shows Officer Rubey approaching 52-year-old Matthew Dearing, who was on a bicycle, around 4 p.m.

Rubey asks Dearing, who police said was known to carry weapons, if he is carrying a knife or a gun besides a knife that is attached to the bike.

Dearing answers, “Just the other knives that I carry.”

After a five-minute conversation, Rubey tells Dearing he is under arrest for a warrant and tries to handcuff him.

Rubey tells Dearing to get on the ground several times as Dearing asks what he is being arrested for.

The video shows Rubey getting Dearing to the ground, but he stands back up and balls up his fist. Rubey then deploys pepper spray.

Dearing reaches toward his waistband to retrieve an item that Rubey believed to be a knife, according to police.

Rubey yells at him to drop the knife. Dearing tells Rubey he does not have a knife and then deploys pepper spray at Rubey.

The video shows Rubey fire his gun once, striking the suspect in the neck.

Police said Dearing was treated at the scene and taken to Flagstaff Medical Center, and a knife was located in his pants pocket while he was receiving treatment.

Rubey suffered minor eye injuries and was treated on scene.

The investigation is ongoing.

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