GUILTY AZ - Body camera video shows man tased 11 times by Glendale officers, July 2017 *officers charged*

[cybervampira]

Abuse of Force: Bodycam video shows man tased 11 times

On July 27, 2017, Johnny Wheatcroft was a passenger in a silver Ford Taurus when a pair of Glendale police officers pulled in front them in a Motel 6 parking lot.

The stop was for an alleged turn signal violation.

Minutes later, Wheatcroft was handcuffed lying face down on the hot asphalt on a 108-degree day. He'd already been tased 10 times, with one officer kneeling on his back as another, Officer Matt Schneider, kicked him in the groin and pulled down his athletic shorts to tase him a final time in his testicles, according to a federal lawsuit and body camera footage obtained by ABC15.



The scene was witnessed by his 11- and 6-year-old sons.

Multiple independent law enforcement experts, who agreed to review the incident, said the officers’ conduct was unlawful, potentially criminal, and one of the most cruel and troubling cases of police misconduct they’ve ever seen.

“I have never seen anything like this before,” said Jeff Noble, an attorney and former deputy chief of police in Irvine, Calif., who’s testified in hundreds of cases including Tamir Rice and Philando Castile. “ It reminds me of a case in New York where an individual was sadistically taking a broom handle and shoving it up (the suspect’s) anus. This is just beyond the pale. It’s outrageous conduct.”

Former LAPD detective supervisor T.T. Williams echoed his shock.

“That’s not even borderline,” said Williams, an expert witness who testified in the Philip Brailsford case on behalf of the prosecution. “That’s inhumane.”

[...]

On February 8, the Glendale Police Department released the following statement:

05f7cf72-1e05-4d90-99db-7d50749c4609.pdf

[...]

Horrifying moment Arizona cop tazes a man ELEVEN times and fires at his testicles | Daily Mail Online

Second by second: Experts review officer's bodycam video

Body-cam footage shows Glendale police Taser tactics that prompted federal lawsuit

Cops Taser dad 11 times and 'pull down his shorts to fire at his BALLS'

*** GRAPHIC ***

 

[JDG]

Cop Culture at its worst. Another place I won't be visiting.

 

[nightowl1975]

He wasn’t even the driver of the vehicle. Is it really a law that you must have ID on you as a passenger in a vehicle or they can take you in and fingerprint you?

If this is how these officers act ON CAMERA, I don’t even want to imagine what they behave like OFF camera. Horrifying.

As a parent, I’m not even sure what to tell my children. We go over be still, don’t move, put your hands on the steering wheel or dash, DO NOT MOVE, and repeat over and over “I want a lawyer” the second the situation seems to be getting out of control. If they want you to exit the vehicle, do so with your hands in the air. If they want to cuff you, let them. Anything else can be worked out later. But not if some insane cop shoots you first. It’s terrifying... and we’re white. I cannot even imagine what it would be like to be a minority. Just unimaginable.

 

[JDG]

That man is lucky to be alive as tasering can cause cardiac arrythmias and sudden death in some perfectly healthy individuals.

Good to know that cops think having trouble breathing is from 'being stupid'.

Shocking disregard for the mans' life/welfare/rights.

 

[weepingangel]

 

[cybervampira]

The comments!

Glendale Police Department - Arizona

Volatile Glendale Policing Situation Detailed

GLENDALE, Ariz. – On July 26, 2017, Glendale Police Officers were in the area 5900 W. Myrtle Avenue conducting intensive patrol due to increased crime reported in the area. At approximately 7:30 PM, Officers Matt Schneider and Mark Lindsey contacted the occupants of a Ford Taurus after Officer Schneider observed a traffic violation. The contact occurred in a parking lot that was included in a blanket trespass agreement with the City and parking lot owner. The officers both approached the Ford Taurus and found that it was occupied by three adults and two children. Upon contact, officers discovered that the driver did not have a driver’s license and began to address an observed seat belt violation. The occupants of the vehicle were identified as Shawn Blackburn (34), the driver of the vehicle; Johnny Wheatcroft (37), the front seat passenger; and Anya Chapman (34), the driver’s side rear passenger with two children beside her, ages eleven (11) and six (6).

During the officers’ contact at the vehicle, they each noted Johnny Wheatcroft reaching down below the seat into a backpack. Mr. Wheatcroft also immediately upon contact exhibited verbal non-compliance by refusing to identify himself and failed to obey the officer’s instructions to stop reaching his hands beneath the seat into the backpack and about the vehicle in the area between the seat and console. For the safety of themselves and those around them, including the minor children, the officers attempted to remove Mr. Wheatcroft from the vehicle so they could maintain a safe eye on him for the duration of the traffic stop as well as conduct a pat down for weapons.

Mr. Wheatcroft immediately began to physically resist the officers’ attempts to escort him from the vehicle while continuing to place his hands where officers could not see them. Officers displayed their Tasers and warned him of potential Taser use to gain his compliance; however, Mr. Wheatcroft continued to argue, yell and physically resist the officers’ control holds. Due to the physical resistance from Mr. Wheatcroft, the Taser was used in a drive stun capacity in order to gain control and avoid physical injury.
While officers attempted to detain Mr. Wheatcroft, Anya Chapman swung a bag filled with bottled drinks, striking Officer Lindsey in the head, rendering him unconscious. Seeing his partner unconscious, coupled with Mr. Wheatcroft’s continued resistance and the unknown threat from within the vehicle, Officer Schneider deployed his Taser, striking Mr. Wheatcroft. Dealing with two adults that were being physically aggressive and had already assaulted one officer, Officer Schneider asked for additional officers to respond. As multiple officers arrived on scene, they tended to the injured officer and helped detain Mr. Wheatcroft as he was continuing to resist officers by kicking and screaming. Mr. Wheatcroft was eventually able to be calmed down, and he and Anya Chapman were taken into custody without further incident. As officers continued their investigation, a usable quantity of methamphetamine was found within the vehicle. Mr. Wheatcroft and Ms. Chapman were charged with Aggravated Assault due to their actions, in which Ms. Chapman subsequently plead guilty.

Fire personnel responded to the scene to evaluate Mr. Wheatcroft and the injured officer. Mr. Wheatcroft refused medical attention. The officer that was struck was transported to a local valley hospital for medical treatment and returned to full duty several days later.
The Glendale Police Department is dedicated to remaining transparent with the community that we serve, and public safety is the top priority. The Department recognizes that society expects accountability and we hold ourselves to the highest standards set by Arizona Police Officer Standards and Training as well as state law. Per Department protocol regarding any response to resistance, a review of the officers’ actions has been performed and discipline implemented regarding certain tactics used by one officer.

The video below shows the Glendale Officer being knocked unconscious by one of the occupants in the vehicle.

 

[nightowl1975]

Did they think the body cam footage wouldn’t be released? I’m perplexed at the thought process of putting out blatant lies in an open Facebook post to the public knowing full well that video evidence would easily prove them to be liars. I don’t get the logic there at all.

I absolutely believe there are many good, honest, upstanding officers throughout the country. It puts those men and women at grave risk when behavior like this is tolerated. People wonder why John Q Public hates the police? Watch this. This. This is why.

I cannot believe this officer still carries a gun and possesses the power to assault the citizens of this town. I’ll never set foot there, that’s for sure.

 

[JerseyGirl]

What happens when police take an officer’s word over video evidence?

Before Matthew Schneider tasered a handcuffed man in the groin after a traffic stop, the Glendale officer claimed he stopped the vehicle for an alleged turn signal violation. But surveillance footage shows Schneider never saw that violation.

 

[SunSun]

Finally! More than four years after the traffic stop, Matt Schneider is being charged with three counts of aggravated assault — all Class 6 felonies.

The news video at the link says that Schneider retired under an accidental disability claim in early 2020, allowing him to collect a pension and benefits.

AG's Office files charges against Glendale officer who tased handcuffed man in groin

 

[JerseyGirl]

Former Glendale cop pleads guilty in taser case

A former Glendale police officer criminally charged for kicking and tasering a handcuffed man in the groin has pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

www.abc15.com

During his sentencing hearing, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Patricia Starr said that she did not feel probation was necessary and expressed sympathy for Schneider.

“You’ve suffered for the last five and half years the consequences of what’s happened Your family has suffered the consequences of what happened. You’ve lost a lot of things that were very important to you,” Starr said. “What you did with that is now what a lot people would do, you picked yourself up, found something else and are now excelling at that. So, I would see no purpose what’s so ever to put you on probation… I see the loss of your career as a very severe punishment that’s already happened to you.”

Starr did order Schneider to pay fines and fees totaling $115.

“And that’s going to be my sentence. I think it’s time for everybody to move on,” Starr said.

Wheatcroft and his attorneys did not address the court about the plea deal. They are in the process of finalizing a confidential settlement for their federal civil rights lawsuit.