State files charges against Glendale officer who used stun gun on cuffed suspect

PHOENIX – A suburban Phoenix police officer faces charges of aggravated assault four years after he was accused of repeatedly using a stun gun on the private parts of a handcuffed suspect.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office filed the direct complaint against then-Glendale Officer Matthew Schneider on Wednesday in Maricopa County Superior Court.

In each of the three counts of aggravated assault, the complaint said Schneider “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly caused a physical injury to Johnny Wheatcroft, while he was bound or otherwise physically restrained or while his capacity to resist was substantially impaired.”

Schneider was one of multiple officers who made a traffic stop at a motel parking lot in July 2017, and arrested Wheatcroft, a passenger.

Body-camera footage (Warning: graphic content) showed Wheatcroft being pulled from the car before he was shot with stun guns nearly a dozen times.

Police said at the time Wheatcroft had resisted arrest. A case against him was later dismissed.

The department previously said there was no proof that Schneider put a stun gun to Wheatcroft’s genitals but had acknowledged in court records that officers used stun guns on Wheatcroft.

Schneider was suspended for three days. He retired from the force in 2020.

“The city will fully cooperate with any requests made by the Attorney General’s Office. The Glendale Police Department works tirelessly to maintain the respect of the community they serve,” a spokesman for the West Valley city said in a statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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