ARIZONA NEWS

Authorities investigating drowning death of man in Tempe Town Lake

Jun 6, 2022, 8:28 PM | Updated: 8:39 pm

Sean Bickings (Courtesy Photo)...

Sean Bickings (Courtesy Photo)

(Courtesy Photo)

PHOENIX — An investigation is underway for the drowning death of a homeless man who allegedly jumped into Tempe Town Lake while fleeing police last month, authorities said Monday.

Sean Bickings, 34, on May 28 was talking with Tempe police officers who responded to Tempe Beach Park near Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway regarding an alleged fight between him and a companion, authorities said in a press release.

Bickings, who was not handcuffed, allegedly decided to climb over a 4-foot metal fence and entered the lake while police conducted a background check that found three outstanding warrants.

The city released edited body camera footage from one officer who responded to the incident and a transcript [WARNING: LANGUAGE]. 

Bickings told police he was drowning and begged for help, according to the transcript.

Officers asked Bickings to swim over to a pylon but the man said he couldn’t, according to the transcript.

An officer at one point told Bickings, “I am not jumping in after you,” according to the transcript.

A person identified in the transcript as a witness pleaded with officers and allegedly tried to jump over the railing.

Bickings went underwater and didn’t resurface. He was found hours later by a rescue team and was pronounced dead at the scene.

City Manager Andrew Ching and Police Chief Jeff Glover called Bickings’ death a tragedy, according to the release.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety will review Tempe’s investigation of Bickings’ death, the city said, and the Scottsdale Police Department is also beginning an administrative review of the critical incident.

The investigations will take multiple weeks, according to the release.

Tempe police and the city are also examining water response protocols and equipment needs for officers around bodies of water, according to the release.

The three Tempe officers who responded to the call have been placed on non-disciplinary paid administrative leave pending the investigations, which is customary in critical incidents, the city said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Split panel image of flames from the Horse Fire on the left and a map showing a related forest road...

KTAR.com

Crews dispatched to protect assets from Horse Fire northeast of metro Phoenix

Crews were dispatched Sunday night to protect assets from the Horse Fire, a wildfire northeast of metro Phoenix, authorities said.

22 minutes ago

File photo of a Glendale police vehicle at the scene of a collision at night. Three people were hos...

KTAR.com

3 people hospitalized after collision in Glendale, including 1 with life-threatening injuries

Three people were hospitalized, including one with life-threatening injuries, after a collision in Glendale on Sunday night.

2 hours ago

Authorities released these images from a 2022 assault in Gilbert in January 2024. An arrest was mad...

Kevin Stone

19-year-old arrested in connection with 2022 assault in Gilbert

A teenager was taken into custody last week in connection with a 2022 assault in Gilbert, authorities announced, the latest arrest in a string of East Valley youth violence cases.

3 hours ago

Woman fatally stabbed in Phoenix on Sunday, May 5, 2024....

KTAR.com

Woman fatally stabbed multiple times inside Phoenix home

Officers responded to a welfare check call around 8:30 a.m. Sunday to a home near 27th Avenue and Indian School Road.

6 hours ago

Biden announced the expansion of Obamacare for DACA recipients on May 3, 2024....

Heidi Hommel

Biden to expand Obamacare for DACA recipients in Arizona and nationwide

Recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in Arizona and nationwide will be eligible for coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

7 hours ago

(Pexels photo)...

Damon Allred

Live Nation’s Concert Week offering $25 tickets to shows across metro Phoenix

Live Nation's annual Concert Week is back to offer $25 tickets to music and comedy concertgoers, beginning on Wednesday.

7 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

COLLINS COMFORT MASTERS

Here are 5 things Arizona residents need to know about their HVAC system

It's warming back up in the Valley, which means it's time to think about your air conditioning system's preparedness for summer.

...

Midwestern University

Midwestern University Clinics: transforming health care in the valley

Midwestern University, long a fixture of comprehensive health care education in the West Valley, is also a recognized leader in community health care.

...

Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

Day & Night is looking for the oldest AC in the Valley

Does your air conditioner make weird noises or a burning smell when it starts? If so, you may be due for an AC unit replacement.

Authorities investigating drowning death of man in Tempe Town Lake