Arizona Judges Launch Effort Seeking Quicker Resolutions to Death Penalty Cases Maricopa County prosecutors have frequently pursued the death penalty, but just 13% of cases ended in a death sentence, ProPublica and ABC15 Arizona found. Experts say the numbers raise questions abou...

NEW: Arizona Judges Launch Effort Seeking Quicker Resolutions to Death Penalty Cases, by @nicolesantacruz.bsky.social @davebiscobing15.bsky.social @abc15.com

Remember this violent arrest?

Phoenix cops repeatedly punched and tasered a deaf man with cerebral palsy -- all based on false info.

It happened back in August.,

This week, Tyron McAlpin filed a federal lawsuit against the city.

The charges against Rebekah were dismissed with prejudice.

The court ruled that the case was "objectively outrageous."

Surprise declined to comment.

Our story: www.abc15.com/news/local-n...

And now, it's not just Rebekah and her attorneys trying to hold Surprise accountable.

We confirmed Judicial Watch, a conservative legal org, got involved.

They requested Arizona's police board to investigate the chief for the arrest, charges, and his video.

Some notable 1A context:

In 2023, Surprise hosted fired (and indefinitely suspended) prosecutor April Sponsel to train officers.

They knew Sponsel colluded with Phoenix officers to invent a gang to falsely charge protesters as members.

www.abc15.com/news/local-n...

Days after the arrest, Chief Benny Pina recorded an internal video for his officers.

He defended their actions and said his officer "acted with absolute speed to carry out the mission."

A line that makes Rebekah wonder if what happened to her was planned in advance.

Rebekah Massie was hauled away from the podium at a Surprise City Council meeting -- then arrested.

Why?

She criticized a city employee.

Her arrest made nation headlines last year.

But we dug deeper in her case because of some past actions from the city.

New Phoenix police policy warns about hot pavements YouTube video by ABC15 Arizona

Phoenix has always been hot.

But it took until this week for police to include the dangers of pinning people on the pavement in their use of force policies.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Vw...

LAWSUIT: Phoenix arrested Black man for asking questions about stop The Phoenix Police Department retaliated against a Black man by throwing him in jail for asking basic questions about why he had been stopped, according to a new lawsuit.

"The Phoenix Police Department retaliated against a Black man by throwing him in jail for asking basic questions about why he had been stopped, according to a new lawsuit."

His attorney also highlights the officers' use of "racially-tinged" comments.

www.abc15.com/news/local-n...

Last week, we investigated the new Sheriff’s decision to stop scanning all jail employees.

This week…

www.abc15.com/news/local-n...

Despite drugs in his jails, why doesn’t MCSO’s sheriff scan staff?

“We hire the best employees on the planet, and I trust every single one of them.”

Well, @ABC15 found more than 180 detention officers (including the Sheriff) landed on the “Brady” list over the years.

www.abc15.com/news/local-n...

Phoenix PD's sergeants / lieutenants union put out a survey about the department.

We found this little tidbit in there...

Phoenix PD union put out a survey about the interim chief and the ongoing search for a permanent leader.

Rank-and-file officers have some thoughts about ABC15.

LAWSUIT: Unsupervised prison inmate trapped and sexually assaulted civilian worker A civilian kitchen worker is suing the State of Arizona after she was violently sexually assaulted inside the Tucson prison by a high-risk inmate who was left unsupervised.

LAWSUIT: Unsupervised prison inmate trapped and sexually assaulted civilian worker

“For years, ABC15 has reported on serious safety and security issues inside Arizona’s prison system, including several of the problems cited in the lawsuit.”

www.abc15.com/news/local-n...

Clarification: He declined to comment after court during the trial. Not after defeating the case.

HEADLINE: DOJ report found Phoenix PD supervisor violated rights. He claims he hasn’t read it.

Lt. Ben Moore was “alpha leader” of the city’s (now disbanded) Tactical Response Unit.

He declined to comment after defeating lawsuit filed by two protesters.

www.abc15.com/news/local-n...

Protestors lose lawsuit against Phoenix police YouTube video by ABC15 Arizona

UPDATE:

Protestors lose lawsuit against Phoenix police

m.youtube.com/watch?v=1xwD...

UPDATE:

Protestors lose lawsuit against Phoenix police

m.youtube.com/watch?v=1xwD...

Interesting test case against Phoenix PD in trial right now.

It’s not the biggest or most high-profile.

But it’s the first protest-related lawsuit to go before a jury since the DOJ’s damning report.

And the judge has let the report in as evidence.

www.abc15.com/news/local-n...

How did a top Phoenix cop get her name taken off ‘Brady’ list? After spending 20 years on the “Brady” list, a top Phoenix police commander got her name removed from the registry that tracks officers with histories of dishonesty, criminal actions, and more.

How did a top Phoenix cop get her name taken off the ‘Brady’ list?

Read the story.

And now, we're working to find out how many other officers have been able to do the same.

www.abc15.com/news/local-n...

Man suffers third-degree burns while being held on hot pavement by Phoenix police The Phoenix police department is now set to face a lawsuit after a man suffered third-degree burns across much of his body during a detainment.

We first reported on this case back in late October.

www.abc15.com/news/local-n...

“A man who suffered third-degree burns across much of his body after Phoenix officers pinned him face-down on the scorching-hot pavement has taken the first step to file a federal lawsuit against the city.”

Michael Kenyon wants $15M or he will sue Phoenix.

www.abc15.com/news/local-n...

Officers invented a gang to falsely charge protesters as members.

They made up evidence.

Wrote false reports.

Lied in court.

After 4 years, a criminal investigation recommended charges for 7 officers and a prosecutor.

But officials won’t bring a case.

www.abc15.com/news/local-n...

MCSO paid $4M for jail death, officials considered giving officers an award An MCSO supervisor recommended that several officers should receive an award after jail staff left a man in a mental health crisis handcuffed, face down, and dying in a cell.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and Phoenix PD paid $4.8M after leaving a man in crisis dying in a cell.

After it happened, some jail staff got recommended for an award.

We also learned one of the Phoenix cops involved later got arrested for human smuggling.

www.abc15.com/news/local-n...

Phoenix and MCSO paid $4.8M for jail death but disciplined zero officers Despite paying a combined $4.8 million to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit, MCSO and Phoenix police disciplined zero officers for leaving a handcuffed man to die in a jail cell.

“Despite paying a combined $4.8 million to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and Phoenix Police Department disciplined zero officers for leaving a handcuffed man facedown, motionless, and dying in a jail cell.”

www.abc15.com/news/local-n...

Court records show the county's settlement seem to come in the middle of a long string of back-to-back-to-back depositions.

Damning testimony?

Also raises the question of what Phoenix will have to pay if they settle / lose? Eight figures?

Politically Charged: An investigative series into protest arrests Politically Charged is an ongoing ABC15 investigation into protest arrests and prosecutions by Phoenix police and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

When prosecutors (who have "absolute immunity") pay this kind of money, it shows the corruption was incredibly bad.

ABC15.com/protest

Maricopa County to pay $6M to protestors arrested and falsely charged in 2020 Maricopa County has approved a massive settlement to end its portion of a lawsuit filed by police protesters who were arrested and falsely charged in 2020.

HUGE SETTLEMENT: $6,000,000

Maricopa County (NOT PHOENIX PD) just settled their portion of the lawsuit filed by dozens of protesters were falsely charged -- several as members of a gang that police / prosecutors invented.

www.abc15.com/news/local-n...

Will DOJ still seek Phoenix PD oversight? ABC15 learns feds are still investigating The Department of Justice is largely expected to abandon its work to put Phoenix police under federal oversight once Donald Trump takes office.

www.abc15.com/news/local-n...