Off-duty Phoenix Police officer seen striking handcuffed shoplifting suspect on surveillance camera

PHOENIX (FOX 10) -- Phoenix Police officials have released details from a December 2018 incident, where an off-duty police officer is accused of assaulting a handcuffed man.

According to a statement released Friday afternoon, the incident happened on December 8, 2018, at a store along the 5300 block of W. Indian School Road, but police were notified of the incident by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office on February 20, 2019. The officer was working off-duty at the time when a 22-year-old man was arrested for shoplifting. The 22-year-old had fought with the officer while being taken into custody, and video provided to Phoenix Police show the officer striking the 22-year-old.

The 44-year-old officer, according to Phoenix Police officials, delivered two to three knee strikes and four to five closed fist strikes against the suspect. However, subsequent transfer of electronic information omitted dashes from booking paperwork concerning the suspect's arrest, resulting in court records showing 23 knee strikes and 45 closed fist strikes being delivered.

The officer, identified by Phoenix Police as a 17-year veteran with the department, has been placed on administrative leave and assigned to his home, pending the completion of the criminal and internal investigation processes. A criminal investigation has been submitted to MCAO for review.