“Okay, I don’t jump in after you”, an officer identified as officer 1 in A transcript spoken moments after ordering Beakings to grab onto the bridge.
“Please help me,” said Beekings. “Please please please.”
Shortly thereafter, Beekings drowned. news release by city officials.
Now three Tempe police officers have been arrested. on “non-disciplinary paid administrative leave” as in the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Scottsdale Police Department are investigating the response of officers in the city. of Please Tempe, city officials said. city does not release names of officers.
In a statement, Police Chief Jeff Glover and City Manager Andrew Ching named the Bickings death tragedy.” Glover met with Bikings mother last week, officials said.
Tempe Officers Association, city police union did not immediately respond to enquiry. for comment late Sunday.
Right after 5 am on On May 28, Tempe police officers responded to an apparent altercation between Beakings and a woman in downtown Tempe. for Art that sits on promenade along Tempe Town lake, reservoir in in city. In his statement city called Beakings “defenseless”.
Body-camera footage released city shows officers come up and talk to a woman who introduced herself as the wife of Beakings. How did she choose up her things off land, she explained that she and Beekings sometimes had disagreements, but said that he did not physically harm her.
Two of the officers then went over in Bikings, who sat on a bench facing water, according to body-camera captured material. By this point, officers were checking the couple’s names. for pending orders, standard procedure according to city. Police later said that Beakings had three outstanding warrants, according to the Arizona Republic.
But these didn’t come. up during the meeting of the Bickings with police, according to body-camera frames that shows officers are trying to small speak with Bikings during the check.
That’s when the beakings slow climbed over a short fence separating the boardwalk from the water. When one of the officers asked what Bikings was doing, Bikings replied that he was going to”for swim.”
– I’m free, right? Buckings asked.
The officers said he was not allowed to swim in lake, but Bikings forded in and began to freestyle to the bridge, according to body-camera captured material.
How far do you think he can swim? one of the officers asked, judging by the footage.
Two of The officers then went out to the bridge under which Bikings swam and watched him. body-camera footage that ends at this point “due to the delicate nature of the rest of record,” the officials wrote at the end. of video.
Instead of this city provided a transcript of the remainder, which indicates that Beakings grew increasingly distressed as he remained in water. According to the transcript, Beekings told the officers that he was going to “drown”.
“No, it’s not,” replied the officer identified as Officer 2.
Officer 1 then ordered Beakings to “go to the pylon and hold on”.
“I’m drowning,” said Beekings.
“come back over to the pylon,” said officer 2.
“I can’t,” said Beekings. “I cant”.
“Okay, I don’t jump in after you,” said officer 1.
Then Beekings pleaded for help and said a few moments later, “I can’t touch. Oh my God. Please help to me. Help me.”
Bickings partner then joined officers and asked them help Beekings, according to the transcript. The officers told her to persuade Beakings to swim to the bridge pylon. She tried and got more and more frustrated. AT one moment, according to the transcript, Beakings’ partner tried to jump over railing to help Bickings but not over up doing so.
“I just distraught because he’s sinking straight in front of you and you wont helpsaid Buckings’ partner.
The officers kept telling her to calm down. down saying that the third officer is getting the boat.
“No no no. Swim,” the woman replied. using curse.
“You’re not helping,” the second officer said.
Moments later, Officer 1 said that Beekings “went downstairs and didn’t come.” up about 30 seconds ago.”
For the remainder of in the transcript, the officers did not address Beakings. Beakings’ partner kept telling the officers that he loved Beakings.
“He is all I have,” she said. “I can’t lose him, he’s going to die”.
Officials said Beakings did not swim more than 40 yards before he got upset and “soon went under the water and did not come up again.
The Republic of Arizona reported that team with Tempe Fire Rescue Pulled Bickings’s body out of water just until 11:30
