Phoenix police says homeless man kicked officers before force was used

PHOENIX — Phoenix police said a homeless man who was seen on video being punched Tuesday by an officer while being apprehended had resisted arrest, leading the officer to use additional force.

A 34-second clip (WARNING: Graphic content) taken at the scene in an alley near 16th and Jefferson streets at about 4:20 p.m. on Tuesday shows an officer punching 28-year-old Derick Cornfield during the arrest.

Geneva Patterson, a nearby resident whose boyfriend took the video, said they heard a call for help and found the officers on top of Cornfield.

Phoenix Police Sgt. Andy Williams said in an email Wednesday that Cornfield kicked two officers who were attempting to make the arrest.

“Cornfield resisted the arrest and kicked the officers, which resulted in officers using strikes and a taser in an effort to arrest him,” Williams said.

Williams added that the two officers were wearing body cameras and caught initial footage of the incident, but they were knocked off in the ensuing struggle.

Patterson said she confronted the officers after the incident and they seemed surprised at her presence.

“It felt like I caught something uncomfortable. I don’t think they noticed that my boyfriend was filming,” Patterson told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Friday.

Police responded to a call for a suspicious person in the area and located Cornfield in the alley, according to Williams.

The officers arrested Cornfield after they found out he had outstanding felony and misdemeanor warrants.

Cornfield was arrested for his outstanding warrants and was also charged with resisting arrest and aggravated assault.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Taylor Kinnerup contributed to this report.

Follow @DannyShapiro13