An internal affairs investigation has been started after footage surfaced of a Pima County Sheriff's Department deputy wrestling to the ground and pinning a 15-year-old quadruple amputee.
Regional Tucson, Arizona outlet KOLD News 13—who first published the footage earlier this week—said in a report that the harrowing incident was filmed by another teen at the same group home back in September. The 16-year-old who filmed the incident, per the report, was arrested alongside the 15-year-old in question. Both faced disorderly conduct charges.
"Men and women who do act this way should not have badges and guns," Pima County Public Defender Joel Feinman said of the footage, which has inspired widespread outrage since its release.
Per the Phoenix New Times, the deputy tackled the teen after he "knocked over a trash can" at the group home. At one point in the full eight-minute footage at the center of the backlash, the deputy is hearing screaming at the teenager that he will "raise my voice to you whenever the fuck I want."
In a statement, a rep for the Pima County Sheriff's Department said only that the internal investigation had been launched, with KOLD reporting that said investigation should be completed within two weeks.
